By TC News Desk
Agartala, December 28: The Jal Jeevan Mission project faced turmoil as the site manager and a contractor reported an alleged assault during their work in Laugang, situated under the Santirbazar subdivision of South Tripura district.
Pramod Mallik, the contractor, and Ramu Chakraborty, the site manager, filed a written complaint with the Santirbazar police station, seeking a fair trial in the matter. Simultaneously, Swapan Datta, Rajesh Barua, and Dilip Das lodged complaints against Mallik and Chakraborty.
The dispute appears to be linked to allegations against the contractors, accusing them of demanding kickbacks for allowing work to proceed or extracting various items from the construction site.
According to local sources, the Laugang development work may face a halt due to the involvement of the three leaders, who claim affiliation with the ruling party. The accusations include coercive practices, insisting that contractors pay a portion of their earnings or provide materials from the work site.
Reportedly, the incident unfolded when local leaders instructed Chakraborty to work on the pipeline at the Laugang site. The alleged attack took place after Pramod Mallik refused to comply with the payment demands.
In his complaint to the police station, Mallik recounted that while in conversation with the chief at the Laugang village panchayat office, the manager received an unexpected call from the work site, reporting that a group of 20 to 30 individuals was assaulting him. Mallik rushed to the location and claimed he was also attacked upon arrival.
Furthermore, Mallik explained that he had relocated government pipes after locals attempted to take them, leading to accusations and subsequent violence.
The incident has escalated tensions in the region, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing development work in Laugang under the Jal Jeevan Mission project. Authorities are now investigating the matter to ensure a fair resolution and maintain law and order in the area.
