**Agartala, June 16:** A long-standing land dispute between two families escalated into a violent confrontation on Monday night, with six rounds allegedly fired during the clash at Balucherra village in Hezamara under the jurisdiction of Sidhai Police Station. The incident has triggered fear among local residents and prompted villagers to seek immediate intervention from law enforcement authorities.
According to local sources, tensions between the two families had been simmering for some time over ownership of a piece of land. The dispute reached a flashpoint when a confrontation allegedly broke out between members of the rival groups, leading to vandalism, physical altercations, and gunfire. Fortunately, no one was injured by the bullets, although several individuals reportedly sustained minor injuries during the ensuing scuffle.
On Tuesday, villagers lodged a formal complaint with the police and filed an FIR against six persons allegedly involved in the incident. However, police had not issued any official statement regarding the matter till the filing of this report.
One of the complainants alleged that the disputed land originally belonged to her grandfather, Samprai Debbarma, who had been allotted a large tract of land for shifting cultivation. According to her, the property was subsequently inherited by his legal heirs. She claimed that a portion of the land had been legally sold to a villager, Sankar Debbarma, during her grandfather’s lifetime, but alleged that efforts were now being made to occupy adjoining land that remained under the family’s ownership.
The complainant further stated that village elders had attempted to mediate the dispute through an arbitration meeting. However, she alleged that the meeting failed after some participants created disturbances instead of engaging in discussions aimed at resolving the issue amicably.
According to her account, tensions resurfaced on Monday night when armed individuals allegedly entered their residence and fired multiple rounds. She claimed the gunshots were fired indiscriminately, creating panic among family members and nearby residents.
Meanwhile, local residents alleged that timely intervention by police could have prevented the situation from escalating. They urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, identify those responsible for the violence, and take appropriate legal action to restore peace and prevent further clashes in the area.
