Tripura police took two persons into custody for questioning on Tuesday following a gun attack directed at a Tipra Motha candidate at Gamaria in Gomati district. The armed incident had triggered acute outrage among party supporters, who responded by staging a major blockade along the Udaipur-Amarpur roadway. The disruption was subsequently called off after district administrative and police leadership provided firm commitments of strict, time-bound legal action against the perpetrators.
High-Level Talks and Tense Confrontation at the Protest Site
The highway blockade commenced around 9.45 am on Tuesday, causing significant disruption to traffic across the sector. In an effort to resolve the standoff, Gomati District Magistrate Rinku Lather, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Ipper Manchak, along with other high-ranking officials, arrived at the location to engage in direct negotiations with Tipra Motha representatives. Prominent figures within the party, including Member of the Legislative Assembly Ranjit Debbarma, took part in the demonstration and directly challenged police authorities over the delay in apprehending the individuals behind the shooting.
During the negotiations, tempers flared considerably. A heated confrontation erupted between party leaders and law enforcement personnel, culminating in a brief physical scuffle. Tipra Motha leaders insisted on unambiguous assurances regarding the investigative steps and timeline to hold the attackers accountable. Only after the administrative and police officials gave an explicit commitment that definitive measures would unfold within a specified timeframe did the demonstrators agree to disperse and reopen the highway.
Fresh 72-Hour Deadline for Primary Suspect Apprehension
Providing details on the agitation, MLA Ranjit Debbarma explained that Tipra Motha had originally presented the police with a 48-hour deadline to round up the culprits. With that initial window nearing its close without major breakthroughs, party cadres moved to resume the road blockade. Debbarma noted that while officers informed the party about the detention of two individuals linked to the case, the main accused who had already been pinpointed remains elusive and at large.
In light of this, the legislator announced that Tipra Motha has now granted the authorities an additional 72 hours to apprehend the remaining suspects. He cautioned that if the administration fails to meet this revised timeline, the party will not hesitate to unleash renewed and widespread protests across all corners of Tripura.
Heightened Vigilance and Imposition of BNSS Section 163
Addressing the security environment, IG Ipper Manchak stated that overall vigilance and preventive safeguards across the locality have been reinforced substantially since the shooting occurred. He confirmed that two separate cases have been officially registered, with investigations proceeding strictly in accordance with statutory procedures across both files.
Corroborating the development, Udaipur Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Debanjali Roy confirmed that two individuals are actively being questioned in custody, affirming that law and order remain steady and under control. The shooting had sparked severe apprehension locally, with party leadership and youth activists expressing deep frustration over the pace of investigative progress. To forestall further disruptions, the local administration enforced prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Even so, elected representatives, including Tipra Motha MLAs and Members of the District Council (MDCs), had gathered at the demonstration site while restrictions were active. The confrontation follows an earlier ultimatum issued by Tipra Motha seeking accountability for the gunfire that occurred during the Tripura Village Committee elections.
