Agartala, April 19:
Post-poll tensions in Tripura’s Khowai district intensified on Sunday as TIPRA Motha supporters enforced highway blockades and issued a stern warning of a larger agitation if those arrested in recent police action are not released immediately.
The unrest follows late-night raids conducted on Saturday by joint teams of Champahour and Baijalbari police, during which six to seven individuals reportedly linked to TIPRA Motha were detained for their alleged involvement in post-result violence.
Reportedly the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to restore law and order after incidents of arson, vandalism, and assaults were reported from several villages under the two police station jurisdictions.
However, the police action triggered sharp backlash on Sunday, with agitated supporters taking to the streets and blocking key roadways.
The Khowai–Kamalpur road (NH 208) was blocked at Behalabari, while the Khowai–Agartala road (NH 108B) was obstructed at Belfang.
Protesters burned tyres and halted vehicular movement, causing widespread disruption and stranding commuters.
Participating in the protest, TIPRA Motha youth leader and newly elected TTAADC member James Debbarma alleged that innocent party workers were being targeted.
“We are here today to stage a peaceful road blockade. The reason for organizing this protest is that last night, without any valid reason, members of the BJP, allegedly with the support of police personnel, picked up one of our most active party workers, Shri Khandiranjan Debbarma, and took him into custody,” he said.
Maintaining that the party believes in peaceful democratic action, Debbarma accused BJP workers of arbitrarily detaining TIPRA Motha supporters and filing cases against them in the aftermath of the elections.
“If innocent people continue to be picked up without any reason, public anger will naturally escalate,” he warned.
Debbarma further said that despite reaching out to senior police officials, including the Superintendent of Police and other officers, no satisfactory response had been received so far. He made it clear that Sunday’s blockade was only a preliminary step.
“Today, we are holding only a peaceful road blockade. But if our party worker is not released, we will be forced to intensify our movement in the coming days and launch a larger agitation. From tomorrow, the protests will become more widespread, and the responsibility for any consequences will lie with the police and the government,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, the detained individuals are being produced before the court as per legal procedure by the police and the arrests were based on specific allegations related to post-poll violence, which has left several areas in Khowai tense after reports of houses being set ablaze and properties vandalised. .
With both sides hardening their positions, the twin developments of continued violence and expanding protests have placed the administration under mounting pressure to restore normalcy and prevent further escalation.
