Police Baton-Charge Villagers During Road Blockade Over Poor Road Conditions in Tripura, Four Detained
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, July 24, 2026
Tension escalated in Tripura's Udaipur subdivision on Friday after police allegedly resorted to a baton charge to disperse villagers protesting over the poor condition of the Tulamura–Dhupatali road. According to local residents, at least four villagers were detained during the police action.
The protest began on Thursday morning when residents of Tulamura and Dhupatali staged a road blockade demanding the immediate repair and reconstruction of the badly damaged road, which they claim has remained neglected despite repeated appeals to the authorities. The blockade continued through the night.
On Friday morning, police moved to clear the blockade. Eyewitnesses alleged that security personnel used batons to disperse the demonstrators, triggering panic and further escalating tensions in the area. Following the clash, additional police and security personnel were deployed, with reports indicating that riot-control equipment, including tear gas and water cannons, was kept on standby as a precautionary measure.
Local residents expressed anger over what they described as the administration's failure to address their long-pending demand for road repairs. Several protesters questioned why action was taken against villagers instead of those allegedly responsible for the prolonged delay in executing road development works.
The incident has also sparked allegations of unequal treatment in handling public protests. Some protesters claimed that road blockades in other parts of the state have been dealt with differently, raising questions about whether law enforcement applies the same standards in all situations. These claims could not be independently verified.
Residents further argued that the deteriorating condition of the Tulamura–Dhupatali road affects not only the general public but also emergency services and government officials who use the route. They urged the state government to immediately undertake repair work instead of relying solely on police action to end the protest.
As of the filing of this report, there was no official statement from the Tripura Police or the state administration regarding the alleged baton charge, the detention of four villagers, or the timeline for repairing the road.
The situation in the area remains tense, with residents demanding the release of the detained villagers and immediate action to restore the road infrastructure.
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