Agartala, 12th June 2026: A college student was detained by local residents and later handed over to police on allegations of impersonating a social worker and participating in a robbery scheme targeting drug users in the city.
The incident took place in the Town Hall area of the capital, where three young men reportedly arrived in a Maruti car and attempted to stop pedestrians and force them into the vehicle. According to witnesses, the suspects claimed they were associated with a social welfare organization and were taking intoxicated individuals to a rehabilitation center.
However, nearby residents became suspicious after a rickshaw puller informed them that the youths were not affiliated with any NGO. Instead, they were allegedly involved in a criminal operation in which drug users were abducted, taken to secluded forested areas, assaulted, and robbed of cash, mobile phones, and narcotics.
The situation escalated when the suspects allegedly tried to force another individual into the vehicle. People familiar with the intended victim witnessed the incident and immediately intervened. While two of the suspects managed to escape, local residents successfully detained one of them.
The detained individual has been identified as Sudip Mondal, a resident of the Ranikhamar area in Dukli Madhuban. A Maruti vehicle bearing registration number TR-01-CL-0392 was also seized and handed over to the police along with the suspect.
Witnesses alleged that the accused was wearing a college uniform while carrying out the activities, possibly to avoid suspicion. Police have taken both the suspect and the vehicle into custody and have launched an investigation into the case.
Sources indicate that a larger gang may be involved in similar incidents across the city, allegedly using the pretext of transporting individuals to de-addiction centers to carry out robberies. Investigators believe that questioning the detained suspect could lead to the identification of additional members of the group.
Police are continuing their investigation and are working to trace the two remaining suspects who fled the scene. No official statement has yet been issued regarding further arrests or charges.
