Agartala, 22nd September 2026 : Residents, predominantly women, of the Jorapukur area in Bishramganj have staged a protest alleging repeated harassment, threats and damage to their shops by a local man identified as Bappi Das.
One of the protesting women alleged that Das frequently arrives in the area with a group of young men during the evening and orders shopkeepers to close their establishments. She claimed that on an earlier occasion, he allegedly vandalised her shop, causing damage to goods and a refrigerator, with the total loss estimated at around Rs 2–2.5 lakh.
“He keeps telling us to close the shop. Even when customers come, he demands that we shut it down,” the woman alleged. She further claimed that she had lodged a complaint with Bishramganj police station over the incident, but alleged that no effective action followed.
According to the protesters, the alleged intimidation has also affected young people in the locality, who, they claimed, are being threatened and prevented from moving freely through the area. The woman alleged that Das has repeatedly issued threats against local residents and shopkeepers.
Recalling an incident during Biswakarma Puja, she claimed that a group of around 30 people had allegedly confronted her and demanded that her shop be closed. She said she resisted despite being alone at the time.
The protesters also accused the local administration and police of failing to adequately address their complaints. “We went to Bishramganj police station, but they did not listen to our side,” the woman alleged, while claiming that Das boasts of having influence over the police.
No response from Bappi Das or Bishramganj police was available at the time of publication.
