BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 18th March 2024 : In a dramatic turn of events, the Lakshminagar area under Churaibari police station became the epicenter of chaos when a group of local vigilantes clashed with police officers. The incident took place late Sunday night when residents, who had been patrolling the area due to a spike in thefts, apprehended a suspected thief.
The situation escalated when the police, responding to the call, faced delays in arriving at the scene. Upon their arrival, the locals demanded that the thief be handed over to them, a request that was promptly denied by the authorities. As the police took the suspect into custody and departed, the agitated youths gave chase, culminating in a violent confrontation at the Churaibari police station.
The mob, armed with bricks and riding motorcycles, launched an assault on the police station, resulting in injuries to several officers, including OC Inspector Samaresh Das, Sub-Inspector Biswajit Chowdhury, Sub-Inspector Sudeep Jamatia, Constable Khokan Deb, SPO Aminul Haque, and a female constable. The rear glass of several police vehicles was shattered in the melee.
In response to the attack, police personnel from Naka Point rallied to defend the station, causing the assailants to flee. The aftermath saw the arrest of five individuals, Arup Nath (30), Pabitra Nath (35), Dipak Goswami (29), Ajay Debnath (27), Rasmoy Debnath, Animesh Nath (37) and Bijit Nath (34), all hailing from various wards of Lakshminagar Gram Panchayat. Weapons including rods, knives, and self-defense sticks were seized from the suspects.
Today, the Churaibari Police Station registered a case bearing the number 17/2024. The case was filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code: 148, 149, 448, 353, 333, 506, and 427, as well as sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
The sub-divisional police officer was promptly dispatched to the scene, but officials have remained tight-lipped regarding the details of the incident. The area remains gripped by a palpable tension as the community reels from the night’s events.
