Mar 17, 2017: Three Tribal villagers including a woman died when jawans of 31-Battalion BSF allegedly opened fire today evening. The incidence happened at a Indo-Bang border village, namely Harbatali ADC village under Sabroom sub-division in South Tripura District. The three slain tribal villagers were Surlakshmi Tripura (35), Min Kumar Tripura (42) and Hara Kumar Tripura (32). Police recovered the bodies of the deceased and set those to Sabroom Hospital for post mortem.
After the firing and resulting death, tension runs high in the area. Along with large Police force, IG Law and Order K.V. Srijesh and SP South Tripura Tapan Debbarma rushed to spot and situation was said to be under control. The District Magistrate, SDM and other senior officials also reached the spot.
Preliminary reports suggest that three BSF jawans of 31 Battalion reportedly went to the village after finishing their duties in adjacent BOP and allegedly tried to molest women of the village. It is further alleged, when the villagers raised an alarm and came out in large numbers to protest, jawans opened fire. However, no official confirmation relating to reasons behind firing by BSF is available so far.
Meanwhile, condemning the BSF firing and demanding immediate arrests of the accused Jawans, ruling CPIM has called a dawn-to-dusk Bandh in Sabroom sub-division.
