Hostel construction in Tripura’s Khowai district halted after a violent extortion-related attack by rival BJP factions. Protesters demand arrests, project resumption, and worker safety. The administration has promised action, but tensions remain high amid allegations of political interference in developmental projects.
Tensions are running high in North Maharanipur under Kalyanpur Police Station in Tripura’s Khowai district following a violent attack at the construction site of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) Girls’ Hostel. The clash, allegedly triggered by extortion demands from two rival factions of the ruling party, has stalled development work and ignited public protests over administrative inaction.
The project, a key government initiative aimed at improving educational infrastructure for tribal girls, is being implemented at the Balaram Kobra Higher Secondary School. The hostel’s construction was awarded to a contractor named Bikram Debbarma. According to multiple sources, Debbarma allegedly paid off one faction of the ruling BJP to secure the contract. However, trouble erupted when a rival faction also demanded a share, which was reportedly denied.
On June 21, the dispute took a violent turn. Two individuals — Sitesh Debbarma of Naksirai Para and Pranjit Debbarma alias Pranoy of North Maharanipur Bazar — allegedly stormed the construction site wielding iron rods and knives. They are reported to have threatened the workers, demanded extortion money, and ordered that the project be halted. When workers attempted to resist, they were assaulted, leading to serious injuries.
The contractor later filed a complaint at the Kalyanpur Police Station, naming both attackers. Notably, the complaint identifies Pranjit Debbarma as the Vice-President of BJP’s Janajati Morcha in Khowai district and Sitesh Debbarma as a coordinator of the Kalyanpur BJP Mandal — bringing the internal party rivalry into public view. Despite the gravity of the allegations, no arrests were made even after nine days of the incident.
Outraged by the police inaction, the faction aligned with the contractor staged a protest on Monday, blocking the main road at North Maharanipur. The demonstration drew a large number of local residents and supporters. Protesters raised several demands: immediate arrest of the accused, resumption of the construction work, swift completion and operationalization of the hostel, and permanent police deployment at the construction site for protection of workers.
The protest forced a prompt administrative response. Teliamura’s Additional SDM and SDPO, along with a large police force, arrived at the scene and assured the protesters that construction would resume and that necessary actions would be taken. Following these assurances, the road blockade was lifted later in the day.
However, the protesting faction warned that if authorities fail to act swiftly and decisively, more intense agitations would follow. Local leaders emphasized the urgency of ensuring safety for workers and students, expressing concern over the precedent being set if political power is used to obstruct development through violence and extortion.
The incident has also sparked wider concerns about law and order in the region, particularly the influence of political factions in manipulating government projects for personal gain. Citizens and activists alike are demanding an impartial probe into the incident and strict legal action against those involved, irrespective of their political affiliations.
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The state government has not yet issued an official statement on the matter, but pressure is mounting from within the party and the public to bring those responsible to justice. The incident underscores the fragile intersection between development and political rivalries in rural Tripura, where even critical welfare projects for tribal communities can be jeopardized by internal power struggles.
As of now, the situation in North Maharanipur remains tense, though under control. Construction work is expected to resume soon under tight security, but the resolution of the underlying conflict between party factions remains uncertain.
