2 more shops gutted as tension prevails in Tripura’s Dhalai over tribal youth’s death, authorities claim ‘short circuit’

Meanwhile, a case was lodged at the local police station over the stone pelting at Gandatwisa police station, in which several unidentified people were accused of destroying public property. A senior official of the state police also said that further investigation was being conducted to determine who was involved in stone pelting at the SDM office.

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Dhalai District Magistrate Saju Waheed said, “Two shops caught fire due to an electrical short circuit and it was controlled immediately. The whole town is under total security now.”

The official also mentioned that Section 144 of CrPC (Section 163 under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) was still in effect, and tight security measures were being considered for the area.

On the issue, the Dhalai district police wrote on its official X handle, “Today early morning, two shops got fire due to electrical short circuit in Gandatwisa , and the fire was controlled by the fire service. The situation in Gandatwisa is normal. We request everyone to avoid circulating unnecessary rumours through social media. @tripura_cmo”.

Local sources said that tension has prevailed in the area since July 12 night, when four shops were gutted and several houses damaged over the death of a tribal youth, Parameshwar Reang, who was injured in a clash with local youths on July 7. Reang was rushed to Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital at Agartala, where he passed away on Friday. Soon after his body was taken back home at Gandatwisa in Dhalai district that evening, tension sparked and several shops were gutted.

However, normalcy was slowly returning in the area, as no further escalation of the situation had occurred since the first round of conflict four days ago.

Meanwhile, the internet was banned for 24 hours in the area to prevent further flare-ups and restrictions were imposed to maintain law and order.

A large group of local residents halted the delegation led by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Tinku Roy and BJP state vice president Subal Bhowmik on Monday after they reached Gandatwisa to visit the affected areas and interact with families that sustained losses in the conflict.

The aggrieved locals alleged that security personnel deployed on the ground during the tension stayed inactive and made video recordings of the place after the shops were gutted.

Minister Tinku Roy said, “It was an outburst of distressed people, not a protest”. He also said that the prevailing situation has forced the people to live outside their homes for days and said, “Our government is committed to ensuring that these people receive their compensation at the earliest and that they receive at least 25 per cent of the compensation within the next two days. Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has instructed us to take initiatives so that these affected people can return to their homes at the earliest.”

According to local administration estimates, around 250 people are still in the shelter houses set up to accommodate those affected by the incidents. The authorities said they would start rolling out compensation to affected families Wednesday and would ensure their smooth return to home soon.

Meanwhile, the state government’s ruling alliance partner TIPRA Motha founder and royal scion-turned-politician Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma on Tuesday took to social media and wrote, “The safety of our people is paramount, I am requesting the state government to take firm action against those who are trying to intimidate and threaten innocent Tiprasa for no fault of theirs. Political elements are also inciting this for personal gains – I request all to stay calm.”