Agartala: Tensions flared in Katraibari village, located in the Ranirbazar area on the outskirts of Agartala city, after a Kali temple, over 30 years old, was allegedly desecrated. Locals discovered the temple’s idol had been beheaded on Sunday morning, triggering outrage and concern within the community.
In response to the incident, a local arbitration meeting was convened, with elders from all local communities present. It was decided that the matter would be thoroughly investigated at the local level. However, later that night, violence erupted, targeting members of the Muslim community living in nearby villages. Several vehicles and houses were set on fire during the unrest.
Emergency services, including fire brigade tenders and senior police officials, quickly arrived at the scene. Additional Director General of Police Anurag Dhankar, in a brief statement to the media, assured that the situation was under control. Superintendent of Police West Tripura Kiran Kumar told EastMojo that ample security personnel, including Tripura State Rifles troopers and CRPF, had been deployed to prevent further escalation.
Minister of Transport and Tourism Sushanta Chowdhury also rushed to the location upon learning of the incident. Following the local meeting, the desecrated temple was covered with a cloth, and a peace meeting was scheduled for Monday.
The violence primarily affected the localities of Katraibari, Durga Nagar, and Astha Mangal, which are adjacent to one another. While the desecrated temple is located in Katraibari, the attacks on Muslim families reportedly took place in Durga Nagar and Astha Mangal. The victimized families allege they were targeted simply because of their community affiliation.
Saddam Hossain, a resident of Durga Nagar, recounted the terrifying ordeal: “We have been living here for three generations. Never before has our house been attacked. Today, a mob suddenly stormed into our house and set fire to everything they could. When my father tried to resist, he was attacked. Our joint family of 12 people lost everything in the fire.”
Hossain emphasized that he had never witnessed such violence in the area. “Even my father never spoke of such an incident,” he added.
Suman Miah, from the neighbouring locality of Astha Mangal, pointed out that Muslims have traditionally protected the temples in the area. “During Durga Puja and Kali Puja, people from all communities—Hindu, Muslim, and Tribal—celebrate together. On many occasions, we even collect Puja subscriptions from the people. Today, we have come under attack. We don’t know what happened at the temple, but strict action should be taken against those responsible. Innocent people do not deserve to be punished.”
Miah noted that another Kali temple, located about 500 meters from the Katraibari temple, has been protected by the local Muslim community for a long time. “You will not find a single scratch on that temple,” he said.
The total number of families affected by the violence is still unknown. Police, fire brigade, and troopers from the TSR and CRPF are working to restore normalcy in the area. Local sources credit Minister Sushanta Chowdhury’s timely intervention for dispersing the mob. They also noted that most of the troublemakers were outsiders and not from the locality.
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The violence-hit areas fall under the Mandai Assembly constituency, a diverse region with significant populations of Muslims, Hindus, and indigenous communities. The constituency is represented by former Tipra Woman Federation (TWF) President Swapna Debbarma, who was elected in the last state assembly elections.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a police official said, “A Suo Moto case was registered in connection with the incident and accordingly we have started the process of investigation. Apart from that, curfew under section 163 BNSS was imposed to avoid any untoward incident.”
On being asked about the number of victims, he said, “So far we know, there are five to six persons who had received mild injuries. As per official reports till now, nine houses had been set afire while four to five houses had been ransacked and vandalized. The total number of four wheelers which have been torched stands at eleven. Some two wheelers were also reduced to ashes.”
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