Khowai, June 30: Tensions escalated in North Maharanipur under Kalyanpur Police Station following a violent attack on a government-funded school hostel construction site, allegedly linked to extortion demands from rival factions of the ruling party.
The unrest surrounds the construction of an ST Girls’ Hostel at Balaram Kobra Higher Secondary School. The project, sanctioned under a government development scheme, was awarded to contractor Bikram Debbarma. Reports allege that Debbarma secured the contract by settling demands from one faction of the ruling party. However, a rival group reportedly sought a share and launched an attack after being denied.
On June 21, two individuals — Sitesh Debbarma of Naksirai Para and Pranjit Debbarma alias Pranoy of North Maharanipur Bazar — allegedly stormed the construction site armed with iron rods and knives. They threatened the workers, demanded money, and ordered the project to stop. When the workers resisted, they were assaulted and sustained serious injuries.
A complaint was lodged at Kalyanpur Police Station identifying Pranjit Debbarma as the vice-president of BJP’s Janajati Morcha (Khowai District) and Sitesh Debbarma as a Kalyanpur Mandal coordinator. Despite the grave charges, no arrests were made for over nine days.
Frustrated by administrative inaction, the rival faction staged a road blockade on Monday, supported by local residents. Protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the accused, resumption of work, timely completion of the hostel, and security at the site.
In response, Teliamura’s Additional SDM and SDPO reached the protest site with police forces and assured that construction would resume soon. The blockade was lifted after the assurance, but local leaders warned of intensified protests if no further action is taken against the accused.
