BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 6th November 2025: A shocking daylight robbery on the national highway and a controversial directive barring journalists from entering the local police station have sparked outrage and fear across Bishalgarh subdivision, a region increasingly plagued by crime and administrative inertia.
This afternoon, businessman Sujit Dhar was allegedly assaulted and robbed of Rs 7 lakh near Harishnagar Tea Garden under Bishalgarh police station jurisdiction. According to Dhar, five assailants on two motorcycles intercepted him while he was returning home from Namarbazar after collecting the cash from a relative. Despite resisting, he was beaten and the money snatched. Eyewitnesses reportedly failed to intervene, allowing the perpetrators to flee unhindered.
Dhar later filed a complaint at Bishalgarh police station. Senior officials, including SDPO IPS Bikash Synthia and District Superintendent of Police IPS Bijay Debbarma, visited the scene. A large police contingent was deployed for investigation.
However, the incident has reignited concerns over lawlessness in Bishalgarh, where residents say theft, drug trafficking, extortion, and armed violence have become rampant. Allegations of police inaction and complicity have eroded public trust. In one earlier case, a shopkeeper was allegedly assaulted for refusing to pay extortion money, yet the accused were not arrested. Instead, the shop was forcibly shut down under police orders, raising questions about the rule of law.
The situation escalated further when journalists attempting to cover today’s robbery were reportedly barred from entering the police station. SDPO Bikash Synthia allegedly instructed officers to prevent media personnel from accessing the premises, triggering condemnation from press bodies and civil society. The Bishalgarh Press Club has strongly denounced the move, calling it an attack on press freedom.
Local sources have also raised suspicions about the origin of the stolen money. Dhar, who owns a sweet shop near Kamalasagar temple, is alleged to be involved in illicit financial dealings. Unverified reports suggest large-scale illegal currency exchanges involving Bangladeshi and Indian rupees may be operating behind the façade of his business.
The presence of a well-known Namarbazar businessman near the police station on the day of the robbery has further fueled speculation.
As the controversy deepens, questions loom over the integrity of law enforcement and the safety of residents in Bishalgarh. The clampdown on journalists has only intensified scrutiny of the administration’s handling of crime and transparency.
