No Arrest Even After FIR in Engineer Assault Case: Furious State Engineers Threaten to Halt Development Works

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, October 11, 2025

Tension has gripped the engineering community across Tripura after an executive engineer of the Water Resources Department was allegedly assaulted inside his government residence at Kumarghat by associates of a state minister’s brother. Despite a formal FIR being filed, police have reportedly made no arrests so far, prompting outrage among government engineers and the State Engineers’ Association.

According to reports, Executive Engineer Ranjay Debbarma was attacked late at night on October 8 at his official quarters in Kumarghat under Unakoti district. The attackers, allegedly linked to a close relative of a cabinet minister, physically assaulted the engineer and threatened to stop all ongoing development works if their demands were not met.

The State Engineers’ Association has expressed strong dissatisfaction over what they describe as police inaction and political interference. In an emergency meeting held on Friday, association leaders met the Director General of Police (DGP) and submitted a memorandum demanding immediate arrest of the accused. They have warned that if prompt action is not taken, all government engineers across Tripura will cease field activities, effectively halting state development projects.

Engineers alleged that similar incidents of harassment had earlier occurred in Dharmanagar, Kailashahar, and Ambassa, but police failed to act under pressure from ruling party elements. Engineers across the state are now working under an unprecedented atmosphere of fear and intimidation, one association leader said.

Reports suggest that police officials are hesitant to arrest the culprits due to alleged political pressure from higher-ups. Despite multiple directives from Chief Minister and Home Minister Dr. Manik Saha to take strict action in such cases, local police have reportedly shown reluctance.

Meanwhile, engineers warn that unless justice is delivered swiftly, development work across Tripura may come to a complete standstill, marking the first such open revolt by government engineers since the BJP came to power in 2018.

The situation remains tense as the deadline given by the State Engineers’ Association to arrest the accused is fast approaching, and public confidence in law enforcement continues to erode.

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