Communal tension erupts in Panisagar: Internet suspended, SP relocated

Agartala, Oct 15, 2024, By Our Correspondent

A tense situation gripped the Pekucherra area of Panisagar sub-division, North Tripura, on Tuesday after a Shiva temple and a nearby mosque were vandalized, leading to escalating communal tensions. In response, the state government imposed a 72-hour suspension on mobile internet and SMS services to prevent further unrest.

The tension first flared up late Monday night when unidentified individuals vandalized a Shiva temple. By Tuesday morning, a group of locals retaliated by damaging a mosque in the same area. The violence quickly escalated, prompting authorities to act swiftly. 

Simmering tensions had already been present in the region due to the recent rape of a Hindu girl, for which two suspects were arrested. The temple vandalism further fueled the unrest, with echoes of the Kadamtala communal clashes intensifying the situation.

North Tripura Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhanupada Chakrabarty arrived at the scene to manage the unrest but was later replaced by Dhalai SP Avinash Rai in a sudden move by authorities. Security forces, including local police and Tripura State Rifles (TSR), have been deployed in large numbers to maintain law and order.