Tripura govt announces Rs 1.54 crore financial aid to compensate 165 families affected in Gandatwisa violence

The government has also said that a detailed assessment of the affected houses, shops and other properties is being carried out and the remaining financial assistance would be made soon.

“The families who took shelter in the relief camp are being regularly assisted and for regular health checkup medical camp opened there. Today the District Magistrate and Collector of Dhalai Oisinct along with Superintendent of Police visited the Gonda Twisa area. From the District Administration, Dhalai it has been informed that the shops, markets are open and normalcy is being restored,” the statement said.

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Dhalai District Magistrate Saju Waheed said, “We have identified all the families affected in the incidents so far and around 70 families, including those whose shops were gutted, houses were damaged and even those who sustained minor losses, are being taken into account and we shall provide compensation to all affected families.”

He also said that the situation is back to normal and while tight security is still being maintained, marketplaces at Gandatwisa and all adjacent places have already started functioning.

As per official estimates, around 40 houses and 30 shops were damaged alongside a few vehicles since July 12.

Tension gripped the area since the night of July 12, when four shops were gutted and several houses were damaged over the death of tribal youth Parameshwar Reang, who was injured in a clash with local youths on July 7.

Reang was rushed to the Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital in Agartala where he died on July 12. Soon after, his body was taken back to his home at Gandatwisa in Dhalai district and subsequently, tension broke out.

The internet was banned for 24 hours in the area to prevent further flare-ups and restrictions were imposed under Section 144 to maintain law and order.

A large group of local residents halted a delegation led by Sports and Youth Affairs minister Tinku Roy and BJP state vice president Subal Bhowmik two days ago after they wanted to visit Gandatwisa and interact with the affected families. On the issue, Roy said, “It was an outburst of the distressed people, not a protest.”

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.

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 ensure 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.”

Around 250 people were shifted to shelter homes set up to accommodate those affected by the violence. Most of them have already returned to their houses by now.

Meanwhile, the state government and local administration have appealed to the people to refrain from rumour mongering and help in re-establishing peace.

Ruling alliance partner TIPRA Motha founder and royal scion-turned-politician Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma made similar appeals on 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”.