A member of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) serving in the 13th Battalion,Sandana Darlong, lost his life while on duty after being struck by a motorcycle belonging to a suspected smuggler on Wednesday night.
According to police sources, the motorcycle involved in the collision was allegedly linked to the illicit transportation of agarwood across the Tripura-Assam border near Churaibari.Reports indicate that a group of TSR personnel, led by Sub-Inspector Ruma Debbarma, were conducting routine patrols around midnight on Wednesday in the Baghan area near Churaibari Police Station.
While patrolling from Churaibari to Baghan via Premtala, a youth riding an unregistered Pulsar motorcycle collided with Sandana Darlong when the latter signalled for the vehicle to stop. Sub-inspector Ruma Debbarma also sustained injuries in the incident.
Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene and transported the victims, including Sandana Darlong, Sub-Inspector Ruma Debbarma, and the motorcycle rider, identified as Abbas Ali (35), to the nearby Kadamtala hospital. However, Sandana Darlong’s condition deteriorated, prompting his transfer to the North District Hospital in Dharmanagar, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries, as confirmed by the attending physician.North District SP Bhanupada Chakraborty stated that following an autopsy, the deceased soldier’s remains would be returned to his family in Baitangbari.
Meanwhile, authorities are investigating Abbas Ali’s potential involvement in smuggling activities.Local sources suggest that the incident underscores the escalating issue of agarwood and narcotics smuggling in the Kadamtala-Kurti region.
