Tension gripped Tripura’s Kathaltali area on Tuesday following the murder of a local club secretary, Samir Das, who was also associated with the ruling BJP. Das was allegedly intercepted by assailants while returning home late on Monday night and was attacked with sharp weapons, sustaining multiple stab injuries. His body was later found lying in a pool of blood by the roadside.
Two brothers, Swapan Sutradhar and Mithun Sutradhar, have been arrested in connection with the murder. The administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in areas under Amtali Police Station to prevent any further deterioration of the law and order situation. The restrictions, which came into effect at 6 pm on June 23, will remain in force for 48 hours, until 5 pm on June 25.
Under the order, the assembly of five or more persons has been prohibited within the jurisdiction of Amtali Police Station. Security personnel, government officials engaged in emergency duties, and patients requiring immediate medical treatment have been exempted. Authorities warned that violators would face legal action under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
As news of the killing spread on Tuesday morning, large numbers of people gathered in Kathaltali, leading to heightened tension. Residents alleged that the two brothers were responsible for the murder and demanded immediate action. Angry groups later attacked the houses of the accused, vandalizing boundary fencing and portions of the residential structures, and setting a section of one house on fire.
Police deployed a large contingent of personnel, including Tripura State Rifles (TSR) troopers, in and around the locality to control the crowd. Amid fears of retaliation, family members of the accused were shifted to safer locations. The situation has been brought under control, but additional forces have been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.
West Tripura Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak visited Kathaltali and reviewed the security arrangements, assuring that all aspects of the case would be thoroughly investigated. Pathak also appealed to the public to maintain peace and refrain from taking the law into their own hands. Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Ipper Monchak later visited the area and took stock of the situation amid the continued deployment of security personnel.
The investigation is ongoing, and efforts are underway to ascertain the motive behind the crime.
