Dharmanagar, January 11:
After concluding his campaign for the upcoming ADC elections, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha spent Saturday night in Dharmanagar and began his Sunday schedule with an early-morning visit to the local oil depot, where he inspected operations and interacted with officials.
Following the inspection, the Chief Minister travelled to Churaibari to address long-pending complaints regarding overloaded stone-laden trucks entering the state through the border area. Dr. Saha said he personally observed several vehicles carrying loads far beyond the prescribed limits. While asserting that the government does not intend to disrupt legitimate business activities, he made it clear that violations of transport and safety regulations would not be tolerated.
“Overloading creates multiple problems and poses serious risks,” Dr. Saha said, directing officials to maintain strict surveillance and take appropriate action against offenders. He emphasised that adherence to rules is mandatory for everyone.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister visited the residence of the late Biswa Bandhu Sen, former Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family. He then attended an organisational meeting at the BJP’s Dharmanagar district office, where he also interacted with the media.
Responding to questions from journalists, Dr. Saha spoke about the recent unrest at Saydarbari under the Fatikroy Assembly constituency in Unakoti district. The incident, reportedly sparked by a dispute over Puja donations, involved miscreants attacking members of a minority community, with houses and vehicles set on fire. He said the police, under the leadership of SP Avinash Rai, acted promptly and arrested several accused.
Reacting to allegations by opposition leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Choudhury and Congress MLA Birajit Sinha, who blamed the BJP government for administrative failure, Dr. Saha countered by recalling incidents of violence during the previous CPI(M) regime. He cited cases from Mandai and Khowai, questioning the opposition’s silence during those periods.
The Chief Minister cautioned against politicising sensitive incidents and assured that the administration remains vigilant. He added that local MLAs and ministers have been directed to visit the affected areas, while police and civil authorities have been instructed to ensure strict monitoring to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.
