Amid Flood Crisis, Government Officers Question How Police Allowed Tipra Motha to Lock Gomati DM, SDM, and BDO Offices
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, June 2, 2025
As flood like conditions continue to grip Tripura, particularly in Gomati district, an unexpected political agitation has sparked outrage and concern across the state. Supporters of Tipra Motha, a current alliance partner in the BJP-led state government, on Monday locked the office of the Gomati District Magistrate (DM) along with nearly all Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Block Development Officer (BDO) offices in the district. Shockingly, some government officials and police personnel were locked inside their respective offices during the protest.
The incident has raised serious questions among citizens and administrative officials alike: How did police forces permit such mass gatherings and illegal lockouts during an ongoing natural disaster emergency?
The Gomati district has also been experiencing continuous heavy rainfall for the past few days, leading to waterlogging, road damage, and flood alerts across several areas. Disaster response teams are already strained, and administrative personnel are expected to coordinate flood relief and emergency services. Instead, government operations came to a near halt due to the political protest.
“This is not just a protest; it’s an administrative breakdown,” said a senior officer from Gomati district on condition of anonymity. “We are in the middle of managing a disaster, and the entire field-level machinery was locked down by a ruling alliance partner.”
Public reaction has also been sharp and critical. Locals in Udaipur and surrounding subdivisions expressed anger over the administration’s failure to prevent the protest.
“We are being told not to gather near rivers or busy areas due to flood risks, but hundreds of protesters could assemble freely and lock down offices. What was the police doing?” asked Ranjit Debbarma, a retired school teacher.
“It’s ironic that the same Tipra Motha, which is part of the government, is now bringing the administrative system to a standstill while the public suffers,” said a local trader in Amarpur.
Security personnel including police, TSR, and CRPF were reportedly present in large numbers during the protest but remained mostly passive. Although initial attempts were made to control the crowd, the protesters ultimately succeeded in locking government buildings and confining officers inside.
At the center of the agitation is a demand for the removal of Gomati DM T.K. Chakma. The protest stems from a recent incident where Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and ADC Chief Executive Member Purna Chandra Jamatia were allegedly denied a meeting by the DM on a public holiday night. Tipra Motha supporters consider this an insult and administrative disrespect.
Despite the seriousness of today’s events, no response or statement has yet come from any senior state government official, the Home Department, or BJP spokespersons, further deepening the sense of administrative silence and political confusion.
With essential government functions disrupted and a disaster situation unfolding, people across Tripura are now demanding accountability, not only from Tipra Motha but also from the police and the state government.
“If this is what governance looks like during a disaster, then we are heading toward an even bigger crisis,” said a civil society activist in Agartala.
As the situation develops, calls are growing louder for the Chief Secretary, Governor and Chief Minister and other top government officials to break their silence and restore order before the dual crisis of political unrest and natural disaster spirals further out of control.
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