A youth BJP leader was murdered over a long-standing personal rivalry in West Tripura's Kathaltali area under Amtali Police Station on Monday night, triggering widespread tension and retaliatory violence. The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to maintain law and order.
The deceased has been identified as Samir Das, a BJP leader and secretary of a local club in Kathaltali. According to police, Das had a long-standing enmity with Swapan Sutradhar alias Sappa, who also hails from the same locality and is reportedly associated with the BJP.
Police said that on Monday Midnight, Samir Das was returning home on his scooter when he was allegedly intercepted near the Kathaltali Shani Temple. The accused reportedly forced him off the vehicle and attacked him with a sharp weapon, causing fatal injuries. Das succumbed to his injuries on the spot, while the assailants fled the scene.
Local residents later discovered the blood-soaked body lying beside the road and immediately alerted the victim's family and the police.
West Tripura Superintendent of Police (SP) Namit Pathak said Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Amtali police station Paritosh Das, along with a large contingent of security personnel, rushed to the spot soon after receiving information. A forensic team and dog squad were also deployed to assist in the investigation, while forensic experts carried out a detailed examination of the crime scene.
The body was later sent to the Tripura Medical College (TMC) morgue for post-mortem examination.
The murder sparked widespread outrage in the locality. Shortly after the incident, hundreds of agitated villagers allegedly attacked the residence of one of the accused and set it ablaze. Fire and Emergency Services personnel reached the spot in time and managed to contain the fire, limiting the damage.
As tension escalated, senior police officials, including SP Namit Pathak, rushed to the area with additional security personnel to restore order. The situation was eventually brought under control.
Speaking to reporters, SP Pathak appealed to local residents to maintain peace and assured that police would conduct a thorough investigation to ensure justice.
On Tuesday morning, tension continued in the area, prompting authorities to deploy additional security forces to prevent any untoward incidents. Police launched a manhunt for the prime accused, Swapan Sutradhar, who was later arrested by personnel from New Capital Complex (NCC) police station from the Indranagar area of Agartala on Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, in view of the murder and the subsequent law and order situation, West Tripura District Magistrate Dr Vishal Kumar imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023, across the jurisdiction of Amtali Police Station for 48 hours. The restrictions came into effect from 6:00 PM on June 23 and will remain in force until 5:00 PM on June 25, 2026.
The order was issued in view of apprehensions of retaliatory violence, unlawful assembly, and a possible breach of public peace following the murder. Police have urged residents to cooperate with the administration and refrain from spreading rumours or taking the law into their own hands.