Communal Tensions Flare in Unakoti After Festival Donation Row
Agartala Jan 10: A dispute over subscription collection for a local religious festival in Unakoti district’s Fatikroy area spiralled into violence on Friday, with the situation allegedly aggravated by the involvement of an unauthorised timber shop owner who, according to local sources, has past links to illegal cross-border trade with Bangladesh.
The incident occurred in the Shimultala locality when volunteers associated with the Bharav Mela organising committee stopped a vehicle loaded with timber logs and asked the driver to contribute towards the upcoming religious fair. The driver reportedly objected to the demand, stating that the request for subscription was unjustified, which soon led to a verbal confrontation.
As the argument escalated, the owner of the timber shop, to whom the vehicle was reportedly connected, intervened in the dispute. The shop owner, belonging to a minority community, allegedly sided with the driver, and the exchange soon intensified, drawing in more people from both sides.
Police and local sources said the altercation took a serious turn after communal sentiments surfaced during the argument. What initially remained a heated verbal exchange soon degenerated into a physical scuffle, with festival volunteers allegedly being assaulted by the timber shop owner and his associates.
The situation further deteriorated when residents from nearby localities reportedly retaliated, leading to widespread unrest in the area. During the violence, miscreants allegedly set fire to stacks of hay, bamboo fencing, and a timber-laden vehicle, causing panic among residents and forcing many to remain indoors.
Authorities later revealed that the timber shop involved in the incident was operating without proper authorization. Police sources also claimed that the shop owner has a history of alleged involvement in illegal business activities, including suspected cross-border trade links with Bangladesh, which are now under further investigation.
Following reports of violence, the district administration rushed additional security forces to the area. A large contingent of Tripura Police, along with personnel from the Tripura State Rifles (TSR), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Assam Rifles, was deployed to bring the situation under control. Police resorted to a limited lathi-charge to disperse the mob, while drone surveillance was introduced to monitor movement and prevent fresh flare-ups.
Unakoti District Magistrate Dr Tamal Majumder and Superintendent of Police (in-charge) Avinash Rai visited the affected locality to assess the ground situation. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were imposed in sensitive pockets to prevent further gatherings and escalation.
As a precautionary measure, the district administration also suspended mobile internet services across Unakoti district for 48 hours to curb the spread of rumours and prevent mobilisation through social media platforms.
Speaking to the media, SP (in-charge) Avinash Rai described the incident as unfortunate and said that adequate security arrangements had been put in place. He confirmed that several individuals involved in instigating the violence had been arrested and stated that the situation was gradually returning to normal under strict police surveillance.
Police later issued advisory urging residents to refrain from spreading rumours or unverified information related to the incident. Authorities warned that stringent legal action would be taken against anyone found attempting to disturb communal harmony or mislead the public.
According to police sources, while there were allegations of attempts to damage a religious structure during the unrest, no serious harm was caused. Only minor damage, including a broken external window pane, was reported, and no residential houses suffered major destruction.
According to District Magistrate Dr Tamal Majumder said that boundary walls and fencing of a few houses were damaged during the clashes. He confirmed that seven to eight individuals had been taken into police custody and reiterated that the law-and-order situation in the area was fully under control.
Meanwhile, local MLA and Minister Sudhangshu Das rushed to his constituency after receiving information about the incident. Describing the violence as regrettable, the Minister said prompt action by the police and local administration helped restore normalcy. He appealed to residents to maintain peace and avoid spreading rumours, assuring that all those responsible for the violence would be brought to justice.
Opposition parties Congress and CPIM condemned the incident and blamed the ruling BJP for the deterioration of law and order. Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury and Congress Legislature Party leader Birajit Sinha demanded strict action against the perpetrators involved in the violence and arson.