Tipra Motha-Linked Land Mafias Now Target Rural Road Projects, PWD Files FIR After Extortion Attempt in Taidu

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, December 12, 2025

Concerns over growing extortion networks in Tripura’s development sector have intensified again, with the Public Works Department (PWD) filing a formal FIR against a group of alleged Tipra Motha linked mafias who reportedly demanded money from contractors working on Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) projects in Taidu under Amarpur subdivision.

According to an official press note issued by the Tripura Rural Roads Development Agency (TRRDA), PWD, two PMGSY-III road projects NH-208 (Taidu Bazar) to Santang Para via Monjulian Para, and TA Road to Thalibari Road

were sanctioned and awarded to Riddhi Siddhi Construction. After machinery and manpower were mobilized, construction had been underway for nearly a week.

However, around 11:00 pm on 7 December 2025, a group of 12 individuals, allegedly led by one Suraj of Taidu, forcibly took away a JCB machine from the work site after demanding illegal payments from the contractor. The group also issued threats to the agency and contractor when the payment was refused.

Following this, the construction agency submitted a written complaint to Taidu Police Station on 8 December 2025. Based on the complaint, police registered FIR No. 0003/2025 on 11 December 2025 under Sections 308(2)/351(2)/115(2)/3(5) of the BNSS Act 2023.

Police intervention later led to the recovery of the seized JCB machine. Further investigation into the extortion attempt and the network behind it is currently in progress.

This development has created fresh concern, as similar allegations were earlier raised regarding Tipra Motha mandal-level groups demanding money from contractors associated with National Highway projects in Tripura. Now, the same pattern appears to be spreading into rural road infrastructure, potentially disrupting government development work in various districts.

PWD authorities have emphasized that strict action will be taken to ensure that infrastructure projects under PMGSY and other schemes continue without intimidation or unlawful interference.

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