Police Demand CCTV Footage for Theft Complaints, Trigger Outrage After Cattle Theft in Teliamura and Kanchanmala
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, January 31, 2026
A controversy has erupted in Teliamura after police allegedly told victims that a theft complaint would not be accepted unless CCTV camera footage is provided, sparking widespread criticism and debate on social media.
According to local residents, when a cattle owner approached Teliamura police station to lodge a complaint regarding cow theft, the police reportedly asked why there was no CCTV camera installed at the victim’s house. Police were also heard saying that if cattle are reared, CCTV cameras must be installed at home, as it is not possible for police personnel to stay awake all night to guard cows. This remark has now gone viral on social media, drawing sharp reactions from the public.
The situation has further angered residents as CCTV cameras installed at the Pulinpur police naka point are reportedly lying defunct, raising serious questions about policing priorities and accountability.
Meanwhile, cattle theft incidents continue unabated. On yesterday night, three cows were stolen from two separate households in the Amtali Bypass area of West Tripura district, near the Kanchanmala Lakshichhara Ramkrishna Higher Secondary School. Locals alleged that during the early morning hours, vehicles carrying cattle were allowed to Amtali Bypass through police checkpoints without any checking.
As a result, illegally stolen cattle are reportedly being transported along with legally owned ones, making detection difficult. Sources claim that vehicles carrying cattle regularly move from Teliamura through Sonamura, Boxanagar and Kamalasagar routes towards the Bangladesh border.
Residents have alleged that neither the police nor the Border Security Force (BSF) are taking effective steps to stop the smuggling. Some locals have gone a step further, accusing sections of the police and BSF of collusion with cattle smugglers, although no official response has yet been issued regarding these allegations.
The incident has reignited public concern over rising cattle theft, lack of night patrolling, non-functional surveillance infrastructure, and the perceived shifting of responsibility from law enforcement to ordinary citizens. People are now demanding strict checking of cattle-laden vehicles, repair of non-functional CCTV cameras at police checkpoints, and a clear assurance that theft complaints will be registered without unreasonable preconditions.
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