An alleged assault on senior photo journalist Abhijit Bhattacharjee and his son in Agartala's Ramnagar area during the Durga Puja festivities has sparked widespread condemnation across Tripura, with demands for strict action against those responsible.
The incident reportedly took place around 1:10 am on October 20 near the Yuba Sangha Club on Ramnagar Road No. 1. A case has been registered at the West Agartala Police Station, and police have detained one suspect. The Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Sadar, has assured that the remaining accused will also be arrested.
According to the complaint, a cultural programme was underway at the Yuba Sangha Club when a bamboo barricade was allegedly placed across part of the road despite sufficient space for pedestrians to pass. After Bhattacharjee's wife and son crossed the area on foot, the journalist reportedly moved the bamboo aside and attempted to proceed on his motorcycle.
It has been alleged that a group of youths, who were standing in a nearby lane and allegedly consuming alcohol, began abusing him verbally before physically attacking him.
Bhattacharjee's son allegedly tried to record the assault on his mobile phone. However, the attackers allegedly snatched the device, threw it onto the road, smashed it, and assaulted him as well. Both father and son sustained injuries and were later taken to a hospital for treatment.
Following the incident, Bhattacharjee informed the police and sought legal action against those involved.
After receiving information about the attack, Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Mayor Dipak Majumder visited IGM Hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured. On Wednesday morning, Press Club President Pranab Sarkar also met the journalist at his residence and expressed solidarity.
The incident has drawn strong criticism from media organizations and various sections of society. Press Club President Pranab Sarkar, along with several others, condemned the attack and demanded adequate protection for journalists as well as stringent legal action against all those responsible.
Police sources said one person has been detained in connection with the case. The SDPO (Sadar) stated that efforts to arrest the remaining accused would be intensified after the completion of Durga Puja immersion duties
According to the complaint, the accused have been identified as Samrat Deb, Baba Manik Deb, Debashis Bhattacharjee, Shubham Karmakar, Mrityunjay Bhattacharjee, Abhijit Barman, and Supradip Gupta.
The incident has also raised questions over the enforcement of police directives prohibiting the use of loudspeakers beyond midnight. Local residents have questioned how the cultural programme allegedly continued with high-volume sound systems until around 1:20 am, and whether the organisers had obtained the necessary permission. They have demanded that the authorities verify the permissions granted for the event as part of the investigation. Police are continuing their investigation into the incident.