No Arrests 24 Hours After SDM Santir Bazar Attacked in Broad Daylight During Eviction Drive at Kalsi
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, July 8, 2025
Shock and disbelief continue to prevail across Tripura’s administrative and civil service circles as no arrests have been made more than 24 hours after Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Santir Bazar, Manoj Kumar Saha, was attacked in broad daylight during an eviction drive at Kalsi Lichu Bagan area on Sunday. The incident, which occurred in the presence of SDPO Raju Reang, has not only highlighted a complete breakdown in law and order but also raised serious concerns about administrative inaction and political interference.
According to sources, the SDM had gone to the area, where a large number of people had illegally encroached on government land to carry out a long-delayed eviction order. However, instead of receiving administrative support, the officer was attacked by the encroachers, allegedly linked to the ruling BJP, forcing him to flee for his life along with a few staff members.
Shockingly, the SDPO of Santir Bazar, Raju Reang, who was reportedly present at the location, took no action to prevent the attack or protect the SDM, allowing the miscreants to act with impunity. Eyewitnesses say the SDM and his team were vastly outnumbered and had arrived at the location without adequate security arrangements, making them vulnerable.
Despite the gravity of the attack, targeting a high-ranking administrative officer in full public view, no arrests have been made so far. Even more disturbing is the fact that no administrative action has been initiated against the attackers or those who failed to provide protection, despite the fact that the sub-divisional head himself was assaulted during an official government duty.
Furthermore, the Civil Services Officers Association has remained completely silent, fueling speculation that their inaction may be due to the political affiliation of the attackers, many of whom are said to have ties with BJP local leadership. This silence has triggered massive resentment among citizens and civil services officers groups, who are now questioning the safety and independence of administrative officers in the state.
Many have drawn parallels with past incidents when encroachments were removed earlier without such violent retaliation. In 2008, during the Left Front regime, illegal encroachments were cleared from Agartala’s heritage park area without incident. Just last year, the West Tripura DM, Dr. Vishal Kumar, successfully demolished an illegal club structure near Agartala airport, again, without any resistance or violence.
In contrast, the recent Kalsi incident marks a new low, where an SDM was forced to flee from a government
mandated operation, and no consequences have followed. Questions are being raised about the politicisation of law enforcement, failure of district-level coordination, and whether officers can now function freely in areas where political interests dominate.
As resentment grows, demands are mounting for an independent inquiry, immediate arrest of the attackers, and accountability of SDPO Raju Reang, whose inaction could have cost the SDM his life.
Unless urgent and transparent action is taken, this incident threatens to seriously damage the morale of civil servants and further erode public trust in the state's administrative machinery.
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