Two Killed as Minor Allegedly Learns Driving on Busy City's Akhaura Road, Questions Raised Over Police Handling
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, August 31, 2026
A tragic road accident on Monday morning in the Western Club area of Akhaura Road in the heart of Agartala has triggered widespread public anger and raised serious questions over road safety, underage driving and the alleged handling of the case involving the daughter of a senior IPS officer Kishan Kumar.
According to allegations circulating among local residents and eyewitnesses, a car being used for driving practice allegedly lost control on the busy Akhaura Road and hit an e-rickshaw and other people. Two persons reportedly died in the accident, while several others sustained injuries. The incident created considerable tension in the area, with members of the public demanding a transparent investigation and accountability.
The most controversial aspect of the incident is the allegation that the car was being driven by the 16-year-9-month-old daughter of a senior police officer while she was allegedly learning to drive.
Initial discussions on social media had reportedly suggested that the IPS officer's wife was driving, but subsequent claims identified the minor daughter as the alleged driver.
The accident has generated strong reactions because the incident reportedly took place on a busy stretch of the capital rather than in a controlled or relatively isolated location suitable for learning to drive. Residents have questioned why a minor was allegedly allowed to practise driving on a congested public road when driving schools and safer training locations are available.
Public anger has also been directed at what some residents describe as an apparent contradiction in the enforcement of traffic laws. Police authorities routinely take action against underage riders and impose penalties for violations. Against that backdrop, residents are now demanding to know whether the same standards of law enforcement will be applied if the allegations concerning the minor driver are established.
The controversy has further intensified following allegations that police were attempting to suppress or minimise details of the accident because of the identity of the minor's father.
Any claim that police deliberately attempted to conceal the driver's identity or suppress evidence must therefore be investigated and verified before being treated as fact.
Several local residents reportedly gathered and expressed their anger, demanding that the investigation be conducted without political or administrative influence. Their central demand is that the identity or official position of the family involved should not affect the course of the investigation.
The accident has also raised questions about parental responsibility and the legal consequences of allowing a minor to operate a motor vehicle. Under Indian motor vehicle law, persons below the legally prescribed age are generally not permitted to drive motor vehicles on public roads, and the law provides for action against vehicle owners or guardians in certain circumstances when a minor is found driving. Where a serious accident resulting in death occurs, the legal consequences can become substantially more serious, depending on the facts established during investigation.
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