Agartala, 21st October 2026 : An alleged assault on journalist Abhijit Bhattacharya and his son near Yubak Sangha Club in Ramnagar has triggered widespread concern, with journalists and others demanding strict action against those involved.
The incident reportedly occurred around 1:10 AM on October 21, near Ramnagar Road No. 1, when a cultural programme was underway at the club. Both the journalist and his son sustained injuries, while the latter’s mobile phone was allegedly snatched and smashed during the attack.
According to the complaint, a portion of the road had been blocked with bamboo poles to facilitate the programme. After his wife and son had crossed the stretch, Bhattacharya allegedly attempted to move the barricade to proceed on his motorcycle. At that point, some youths from a nearby alley reportedly hurled abuses at him before launching an assault.
When Bhattacharya’s son attempted to record the incident on his mobile phone, the assailants allegedly snatched the device, threw it onto the road and damaged it. He was also reportedly assaulted. The injured father and son were subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.
West Agartala Police Station has registered a case in connection with the incident. According to police sources, one person has been detained, while efforts are underway to apprehend the other suspects. The Sadar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) reportedly stated that further action to arrest the remaining accused would be taken after the Durga idol immersion process concludes.
Several names have surfaced in connection with the case, including Samrat Deb, alias Baba Manik Deb, Debashish Bhattacharya, Shubham Karmakar, Mrityunjay Bhattacharya, Abhijit Barman and Supradip Gupta. However, the allegations against them and their respective roles, if any, have not yet been established and remain subject to police investigation.
Following the incident, Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumder visited IGM Hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured. On Wednesday morning, Press Club President Pranab Sarkar also visited Bhattacharya’s residence to meet the journalist and express concern over the incident.
The alleged attack has drawn condemnation from members of the journalist fraternity, with Press Club President Pranab Sarkar and others calling for stringent legal action against those responsible. They also stressed the need to ensure the safety and security of journalists while carrying out their professional duties.
Meanwhile, questions have been raised over the conduct of the late-night cultural programme, particularly the alleged use of loudspeakers at high volume until around 1:20 AM. Concerns have also emerged over the reported blocking of a public road and whether the organisers had obtained the necessary permission to hold the event.
Residents and others have called for an examination of the permissions granted, including any conditions imposed on the organisers regarding sound levels, timing and public access. Whether any regulations were violated will need to be established by the concerned authorities.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances leading to the alleged assault, identify the individuals responsible and clarify whether any lapses occurred in granting permission for the late-night programme.
