Agartala, April 19: Post-poll tensions in Tripura’s Khowai district intensified on Sunday as supporters of TIPRA Motha staged highway blockades and warned of a larger agitation if recently detained individuals are not released.
The unrest follows late-night raids carried out on Saturday by joint teams from Champahour and Baijalbari police stations. During the blockade, six to seven individuals allegedly linked to TIPRA Motha were detained in connection with incidents of post-election violence. The police action is part of ongoing efforts to restore order after reports of arson, vandalism, and assaults in several villages under the two jurisdictions.
However, the arrests triggered strong protests on Sunday, with party supporters blocking key roadways and disrupting normal life. The Khowai–Kamalpur Road was blocked at Behalabari, while the Khowai–Agartala Road was obstructed at Belfang. Protesters burned tyres and halted vehicular movement, leaving commuters stranded for hours.
Joining the protest, TIPRA Motha youth leader and newly elected TTAADC member James Debbarma alleged that innocent party workers were being targeted. He claimed that one of their active members, Khandiranjan Debbarma, was taken into custody without valid reason, allegedly with the involvement of BJP workers and police personnel.
Debbarma asserted that the party believes in peaceful democratic protest but warned that arbitrary detentions could fuel public anger. He also stated that attempts to reach senior police officials, including the Superintendent of Police, had not yielded any satisfactory response.
“Today’s blockade is only a preliminary step. If our party worker is not released, we will intensify our movement in the coming days,” he said, cautioning that protests could spread further across the region.
Meanwhile, police officials maintained that the detained individuals are being produced before the court as per legal procedures and that the arrests were based on specific allegations linked to post-poll violence. The situation remains tense in several parts of Khowai, with reports of houses being set ablaze and properties vandalised.
With both sides standing firm, the administration faces increasing pressure to restore normalcy and prevent further escalation.
