Miscreants Vandalise Maharaja Bir Bikram’s Statue, Triggering Tensions in Khumulung

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, April 24, 2025

In the early hours of Wednesday, unidentified vandals attacked the bronze statue of Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Bahadur at the entrance gate of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) complex in Khumulung. Eyewitnesses discovered that the regal sword clutched in the monarch’s hand had been crudely pried off and stolen, leaving the monument scarred and the surrounding area in uproar.

Installed two years ago by the state government to honour Tripura’s legendary warrior-king, the statue has become a local landmark—seen daily by hundreds of visitors, students and council employees. Officials say the perpetrators appear to have chipped away at the base of the sword’s hilt using handheld tools, dragging the bronze weapon away under cover of darkness.

Local residents and community leaders voiced outrage at the desecration of a cherished historical symbol. “This is not merely an act of theft,” said a youth leader from Khumulung, “it’s an assault on our cultural heritage and identity.” Several tribal councillors have formally petitioned the Khumulung Police Station, urging prompt investigation, enhanced night patrols and the installation of CCTV cameras at all TTAADC headquarters areas.

The episode has reignited debate over the protection of public art and the need for community engagement in safeguarding Tripura’s rich legacy.

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