Shimultali Violence: Congress Leaders ‘Stopped’ by Police
Fatikroy (Tripura), Jan 11: The role of the police administration of the Unakoti District in Tripura came under sharp criticism of Congress leaders on Sunday.
Party sources accused law enforcement authorities of obstructing Congress leaders’ visit to the violence-hit Shimultali area in Fatikroy subdivision of the Unakoti, triggering a fresh political row over transparency and democratic rights.
Congress Legislature Party leader and MLA Birajit Sinha, accompanied by Unakoti district Congress president Md. Badruzzaman, attempted to visit Shimultali – which witnessed severe arson and vandalism a day earlier – to assess the situation on the ground and interact with affected minority families.
I Watch & listen Congress MLA’s Comment I
However, the Congress leaders alleged that police personnel stopped them from entering the locality and prevented them from speaking to victims of the violence. Comments from the Police regarding the allegation are yet to be received.
According to available information, Shimultali under Fatikroy police station limits saw widespread violence on Saturday, during which multiple houses, shops, and vehicles belonging to members of the minority community were reportedly torched and damaged.
The sudden escalation turned the area into a flashpoint, forcing several families to flee their homes in panic. Even now, fear and uncertainty continue to grip the locality.
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Reacting strongly, MLA Birjit Sinha described the alleged police action as a “blatant curtailment of democratic rights.”
“If elected representatives are barred from meeting citizens who have suffered violence, it raises serious questions about the state of democracy.
The administration must clarify why it is trying to prevent the truth from coming out,” he said.
Unakoti district Congress president Md. Badruzzaman also criticised the police administration, stating that the affected minority families are still living under extreme insecurity.
“At a time when victims need reassurance and support, the opposition leaders are being stopped from standing beside them. This is not only condemnable but also deeply alarming,” he remarked.
The episode has intensified political reactions across the state, with opposition leaders questioning whether the administration is attempting to conceal facts by restricting access to a violence-affected area.
The alleged police obstruction has further fuelled concerns over administrative neutrality and accountability.
Meanwhile, Shimultali continues to remain tense. Despite heavy police deployment to maintain law and order, residents claim that a sense of normalcy has not returned.
“Trust in the administration remains fragile, with growing demands for transparency, justice, and confidence-building measures”, locals claimed.
As the situation unfolds, Shimultali has emerged as more than just a site of violence—it has become a focal point of a larger political and democratic debate in Tripura.