Violence Erupts at Unity Promo Fest in Agartala: Police Lathi-Charge Leaves Several Injured as Crowd Chaos Mars Jubin Nautiyal Concert

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, December 13, 2025

Agartala’s iconic Vivekananda Ground, the heart of the capital, was overflowing with thousands of music lovers on Saturday night as Bollywood singer Jubin Nautiyal took the stage. What began as a festive evening soon descended into chaos, leaving multiple people including journalists injured after a sudden police lathi-charge near the VIP gate.

Eyewitnesses and victims alleged that despite holding VIP passes, many people were denied entry due to severe overcrowding and mismanagement. Long queues stretched for hours, forcing several frustrated attendees to abandon their VIP passes and return home. Complaints poured in that excess VIP passes were distributed, leading to black marketing and unmanageable crowds at the venue.

Inside the packed ground, many spectators fell ill, but taking them to the hospital became difficult due to the massive crowd and restricted movement.

Residents living around Swami Vivekananda Maidan reported extreme inconvenience throughout the evening. Many said they were barred by police from entering their own homes, despite returning late at night after work. Local people described the situation as unbearable and chaotic.

The police action near the VIP gate has drawn sharp criticism across social media platforms. Netizens questioned, What was the fault of ordinary people that police beat them so mercilessly? Several posts also alleged that under the presence of SP Namit Pathak, police personnel led by Dhruva Nath resorted to indiscriminate lathi-charge, leaving common citizens bleeding and injured.

Many also accused the government of spending crores of public money on organizing the Promo Fest to divert attention from unemployment and livelihood issues. Critics remarked sarcastically that the government seems to believe that jobs, education, and work no longer matter, people will remain happy with music shows funded by taxpayers’ money.

Public anger continued to swell online, with users asking why such a massive event was organized at all if authorities were unable to manage the crowd. The sentiment was strongly reflected in one viral comment:

Ordinary people are being beaten outside while ministers, their families, and acquaintances enjoy the show comfortably from the front row.

The incident has sparked demands for accountability from the administration and a reassessment of event management practices to ensure public safety in future large gatherings.

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