Local Janjati people of Kaloi para in Tripura blocked the Brahmachhara-Kankrachhara-Nunachhara road of Teliamura sub-division on Sunday demanding a fair investigation and trial into the demolition of 17 under construction PMAY houses of Bengali families on Friday night.
In response to the road blockade by the Janjati people, Bengali people too hit the street and blocked the other side of the road today. Bengali people demanded setting up of a TSR camp in the area ensuring peace and security of Bengali residents.
The situation appeared to become volatile. However, Police intervention kept the situation under control and finally both groups withdrew their blockade after obtaining assurances.
According to the Janjati protestors claimed the 17 houses under the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana in the area adjacent to Kaloi para village in North Brahmachhara were demolished by some unidentified miscreants in the dark of night on Friday.
Even as culprits were not identified, the Janjati people of the Kaloi para were defamed on the social media, they alleged.
“A thorough investigation is needed and those involved in this incident should be identified and punished exemplarily, along with the demand to restore peace and harmony in the area”, Janjati protestors demanded.
Notably, Bengali people blocked the road on January 27 following the demolition of 17 under construction PMAY houses of Bengali beneficiaries on January 26. The victim Bengali families were demanding the deployment of TSR troops in the area to ensure their safety. Meantime, the news of demolition of the PMAY house spread quickly.
Bengali protestors withdrew their blockade on Saturday (Jan 27) after an assurance from Minister and local MLA Bikash Debbarma. However, tension in the area was palpable.
On Sunday (Jan 28) the area witnessed another road blockade. This time it was by the Janjati people who claimed residents of Kaloi para (located adjacent to the demolished houses) were defamed through social media. So, they demanded a probe to unmask the miscreants.
Large Police force rushed to the site today. Police Teliamura Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sudambika R arrived at the scene and tried to persuade the protesters to lift the blockade, but they refused.
Situation took an unexpected turn as Bengali people also gathered in numbers on the other side of the road and raised voices for establishing a TSR Camp.
As the mercury started to move up, Khowai district police superintendent Dr. Ramesh Prasad Yadav arrived at the scene and assured the protesters that a fair investigation would be conducted into the incident and that TSR troops would be deployed in the area.
The blockade was lifted after 10 minutes of talks between the police superintendent and the protesters.
Speaking to the media, Yadav said that a peace meeting would be held soon with five representatives from each community to discuss ways to maintain peace and harmony in the area.
However, even though the blockade has been lifted, the atmosphere of mistrust still prevails in the area.