Violence Erupts in Tripura’s Ganda Twisa After Youth’s Death
In Tripura’s Ganda Twisa subdivision, many houses and shops were looted or set on fire following the death of a tribal youth on July 12. The violence spread to five locations around the main market area. Senior police officials, including IG Law and Order Soumitra Dhar, have been present since Friday night, and additional security forces were deployed on Saturday to prevent further violence.
Damage Assessment
Subdivisional Magistrate Chandra Joy Reang reported that multiple locations within the subdivision experienced arson. Two teams, including the Deputy Collector, Magistrate, and Tehsildars, are assessing the damage. Preliminary reports indicate significant destruction:
| Location | Damage |
|---|---|
| 20-card area | 6 houses set ablaze |
| Narayanpur | 11 shops torched, 1 shop looted |
| 33 KV area | 2 shops torched |
| MR Das Para | 3 shops looted, 2 motorcycles set on fire |
| 30-card area | 12 houses set on fire |
| 7-card area | 20 shops damaged |
| Durgapur | 1 house, 1 motorcycle, and 1 four-wheeler set on fire |
Despite efforts to control the situation, the violence caused significant financial losses for many families, especially those of non-tribal origin. Residential houses, shops, motorcycles, cattle, and other valuable items were destroyed.
Victims’ Stories
Archana Chowdhury’s mud-walled house was destroyed by attackers on Friday evening. She recounted, “We heard that a youth was thrashed at a local fair, and since then, the situation started to worsen. He was shifted to GB Pant Hospital, Agartala, where he died. We heard the news of his death while at the MGNREGA work site. Soon after, all of us returned home and stayed there the whole day. At around 7:30 p.m., the violence started and continued till 3 o’clock in the morning. We returned home in the morning to find our houses destroyed and packs of ripe paddy burnt to ashes.”
Parimal Das’s cattle shed was torched, resulting in the death of 10 out of 11 cows. He said, “We didn’t know anything. Motorcycle and car-borne miscreants came Friday night and set our home on fire. We had 11 cows in the shed, only one calf survived. The losses I have suffered would exceed Rs 2.5 lakh. We urge the government to support us in this time of need.”
Background
The violence erupted after the death of Parameshwar Reang, a resident of Ganda Twisa subdivision. He was attacked at a local fair on July 7 and succumbed to his injuries on July 12. All four accused in the attack have been arrested.
