Agartala, 23rd October 2026 : A dispute over Durga Puja donations allegedly led to the vandalism of a shop near Dhalai District Hospital on the night of Vijaya Dashami, triggering tension in the area. The incident reportedly took place around 2 am on October 21 at Ramkrishna Optical and Clinic, whose owner, Abhijit Goswami, has accused four youths of being involved in the attack.
The shop owner has lodged a written complaint at Ambassa Police Station, identifying the alleged perpetrators on the basis of CCTV footage collected from a neighbouring establishment. Police have confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway.
According to Goswami’s complaint, a local youth club near the hospital had demanded Rs 6,000 from his establishment as a Durga Puja donation. He alleged that although he offered to pay Rs 4,000, the proposal was rejected. The shop’s exterior was subsequently vandalised on the night of Dashami, and an attempt was allegedly made to break the shop’s lock.
Goswami said he came to know about the incident on the morning of October 22 and visited the premises to assess the damage. He later collected CCTV footage from a neighbouring shop and identified four youths whom he suspects of involvement in the vandalism. They have been named in his complaint as Nabotpala Majumder alias Tiklo, Raju Debnath, Nitu Pal and Abhijit Shil.
The shop owner further alleged that the matter escalated on the evening of October 22, when several youths associated with the club allegedly visited his establishment and threatened him. According to Goswami, they warned him that he would not be allowed to reopen his shop. He also claimed that threats were issued that no businessperson from Ambassa would be permitted to operate a shop or conduct business in the Kulai area.
Goswami estimated the damage to the exterior portion of his establishment at around Rs 1 lakh. The allegations have raised concerns among local business owners, particularly over the reported threats against the functioning of commercial establishments.
Meanwhile, police have initiated an investigation into the incident. Ambassa Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nandan Das said that Durga Puja had passed peacefully in Ambassa this year, but the police were looking into the incident reported on Dashami night.
Das asserted that no one would be spared if they attempted to disturb peace and communal harmony in the area. He assured that appropriate legal action would be taken following an investigation into the complaint.
The alleged vandalism and subsequent threats have drawn attention to concerns over the safety of local businesses. Further developments are expected as police investigate the allegations and examine the evidence related to the case.
