‘Kangaroo Court’ Allegedly Decides Fate of House in Agartala City, Family Accuses Ruling-Party-Linked Men of Forcible Occupation
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, September 14, 2026
A property dispute in the heart of Agartala has taken a contentious turn after a family alleged that a neighbourhood area meeting was used to decide the fate of their house and that a group of men subsequently entered the premises forcibly and occupied a portion of the property. The family has described the alleged proceedings as an attempt to settle a property dispute through a kangaroo court rather than through the police, administration or judiciary.
The incident reportedly occurred in Ramthakur Lane, near Durgachowmuhani market, on Sunday afternoon, when timber and furniture trader Biswajit Sarkar and his wife were away from home as their child was appearing for an entrance examination. According to the family, a group of people entered the property in their absence after allegedly breaking open the gate and announced that a portion of the premises would be used for establishing a club.
The family further alleged that the group subsequently took possession of a room inside the house. Sarkar claimed that the development was part of a broader attempt to take control of disputed land associated with the property.
According to the family, the dispute is linked to the ownership and status of different portions of the land. They claimed that while one part of the property is privately owned, another portion is recorded as government land. The family said that many years ago, they had permitted a financially distressed couple to live on the land in a makeshift structure on humanitarian grounds. After the couple subsequently died, the family alleged, attempts were made by others to gain possession of the land.
The alleged involvement of local political workers has added a political dimension to the dispute. Sarkar and his family claimed that some local BJP workers had earlier approached them seeking permission to establish a club on the property. The family allegedly refused the proposal, following which pressure over the property intensified.
Sarkar claimed that Sunday’s alleged forcible entry was not the first such incident. According to him, an earlier attempt had been made by a group of people to occupy part of the property. On that occasion, he alleged, his wife intervened and prevented the group from taking possession.
Following the earlier incident, the family said it submitted a written complaint at the Durgachowmuhani police outpost. The family is now questioning what action was taken on that complaint and whether the allegations contained in it were properly investigated.
The alleged “area meeting” has emerged as one of the most contentious aspects of the episode. According to the family, they were asked to attend a neighbourhood meeting where the property dispute was to be discussed. Sarkar described the proposed gathering as an attempt to establish an informal forum capable of determining ownership or possession of a property without following the established legal process.
He referred to the proceedings as resembling a “kangaroo court”, arguing that a private group of local residents or political activists cannot legally decide who should occupy or control disputed property.
Sarkar said he could not attend the meeting because he was accompanying his child for the examination. The family alleged that soon after, the group arrived at the property and forcibly entered the premises.
The allegations of police inaction have further intensified the controversy. Sarkar claimed that he repeatedly contacted the local police outpost, the police helpline and the official contact number of the Superintendent of Police seeking intervention. According to him, however, immediate assistance did not reach the property.
The family has particularly questioned the alleged delay because of the location of the disputed house. They claimed that the property is situated only around 100 to 150 metres from the Durgachowmuhani police outpost.
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