THRC takes cognisance of alleged Rs 22 lakh extortion by TTAADC MDC Hangsa Kumar Tripura, directs DGP to examine complaint, consider FIR, and submit action taken report within seven days over public development funds misuse.
The Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) has taken cognisance of a media report alleging that a Member of District Council (MDC) of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) extorted Rs 22 lakh from a government engineer. The Commission has directed the state police to examine the matter and take appropriate legal steps if the allegations are found to be prima facie true.
The order was issued after the Commission perused a news item published on February 23 in a local daily. The report claimed that the alleged extortion involved public money sanctioned for development works under the TTAADC, raising serious concerns about misuse of funds meant for tribal area infrastructure.
According to the media report, Hangsa Kumar Tripura, an MDC under the TTAADC, allegedly extorted Rs 22 lakh by threatening a government engineer. The amount was reportedly sanctioned for the construction of a 4-kilometre road from ADC village in a tribal colony area to Bhagyamani Royapara under the Chawmanu Sub-Zonal Office.
The report further alleged that the MDC threatened the concerned Executive Engineer and pressured him to surrender the work order. The development project was intended to improve road connectivity in a remote tribal area, making the alleged diversion of funds a matter of significant public interest.
In its order, the Commission observed that the allegations were grave in nature as they involved public money allocated for developmental purposes. “Having perused the above noted allegations published in the newspaper, the Commission has taken a serious view of the matter since it involves public money and extortion and looting of the said money were allegedly committed by Hangsa Kumar Tripura, a public representative,” the order stated.
The Commission formally took cognisance of the news report and sought immediate intervention from the state’s top police authority. It requested the Director General of Police (DGP), Tripura, to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) if the allegations published in the February 23 issue were found to be prima facie established upon preliminary inquiry.
The THRC has directed the DGP to submit a detailed report within seven days outlining the action taken in the matter. This move underscores the Commission’s intent to ensure swift accountability and transparency in handling allegations involving elected representatives and public funds.
In addition to the DGP, several senior officials have been made necessary parties in the case. These include the Chief Executive Member (CEM) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the TTAADC, the Superintendent of Police of Dhalai district, and the Officer-in-Charge of Chawmanu Police Station. They have been directed to submit their respective reports within two weeks.
The Commission has also issued a notice to Hangsa Kumar Tripura, MDC of TTAADC, whose office is located at Khumlung in West Tripura. A copy of the relevant news report has been enclosed with the order to enable him to respond to the allegations.
The development comes at a time when public scrutiny over governance and financial transparency in autonomous councils has intensified. The TTAADC administers a significant portion of Tripura’s tribal areas and oversees various development projects funded by the state and central governments. Allegations of extortion or misappropriation of funds within such bodies have serious implications for public trust and the delivery of essential infrastructure.
Legal experts note that if an FIR is registered and the allegations are substantiated through investigation, the case could attract charges under sections related to extortion, criminal intimidation, and corruption under relevant laws. However, they also emphasize that the accused is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.
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The Commission’s intervention signals a proactive stance in addressing complaints emerging from media reports, especially when they concern alleged human rights violations or misuse of development funds. By seeking time-bound reports from law enforcement and administrative authorities, the THRC aims to ensure accountability and safeguard public resources.
Further developments in the case are expected once the police submit their preliminary findings and the concerned parties respond to the notices issued by the Commission.
