Tripura: Siphaihaor Panchayat Board Members Resign Amid Funeral Row
Khowai Sep 12: In a dramatic fallout from a heated dispute over funeral rites, the entire elected board of the Siphaihaor Gram Panchayat in Tripura’s Khowai block has resigned en masse, citing a lack of support from their political party amid police action against two of its members.
The collective resignation, submitted today to the Block Development Officer (BDO) at the Khowai Block Office, marks a significant crisis for local governance in the area. All office-bearers and members of the board tendered their papers together, expressing deep frustration over what they described as abandonment by party leadership during a time of need.
The controversy stems from an incident earlier this week at the Amtali crematorium, located within the jurisdiction of Siphaihaor Panchayat. Residents of Siphaihaor reportedly objected to the cremation of a deceased individual from the neighboring Barbil Panchayat, sparking a tense standoff between locals from the two areas.
The objection arose amid suspicions about the proceedings, with Siphaihaor villagers questioning why the body was being brought to their crematorium when two other facilities were available nearby.
As the argument intensified, officers from the Khowai police station intervened to restore order. However, the situation escalated further, with allegations that some individuals from Siphaihaor assaulted the police personnel and damaged a police vehicle.
Among those reportedly present at the scene were Siphaihaor Panchayat’s Upa Pradhan Sudip Debbarma and member Gautam Tanti.
In the aftermath of the disrupted funeral, a member of the bereaved party from Barbil Panchayat lodged a formal complaint with the police. Acting on this, authorities registered a case against Debbarma, Tanti, and several unnamed others, citing obstruction of duty and the alleged assault.
Police officials, already incensed by the interference in their operations, pursued the matter vigorously.
News of the FIRs against the Upa Pradhan and a fellow member quickly spread through the village, igniting widespread resentment among residents and panchayat members.
“We felt betrayed,” one anonymous board member told reporters outside the block office.
“The party we served left us to face this alone, without even a word of guidance or defense.” According to the resigning Panchayat Board members, Debbarma had hurried to the site in an attempt to de-escalate the situation after locals voiced their concerns.
They maintained that while heated exchanges occurred with police in the charged atmosphere, Debbarma was not involved in any vandalism or violence.
The group accused the complainant of filing a “false case” to target their leadership, and lamented that despite promptly informing party higher-ups, they received only silence in response.
“This isn’t just about one incident—it’s about loyalty and support,” Debbarma said in a statement to the media.
“We went there to mediate, not to cause trouble. But when we needed backing, it wasn’t there. Out of sheer disappointment, we’ve decided to step down.”
The resignations have thrown the panchayat’s operations into limbo, raising questions about interim administration and the potential for by-elections.
Local authorities in Khowai have yet to comment officially on the development, but sources indicate that the BDO’s office is reviewing the submissions.
Political analysts suggest the episode highlights deeper tensions in rural governance, including jurisdictional disputes and the challenges of maintaining party solidarity in grassroots politics.
As investigations into the funeral row continue, the people of Siphaihaor await clarity on how their local body will be reconstituted.
