Contractor Allegedly Attacked Over Rs.10 Lakh Extortion Demand, Local Residents Demand for More Active Police Action

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 22, 2026

Local residents in the Ramchandraghat–Dwarikapur area of Khowai district have called for more active and effective police action following allegations that a contractor was assaulted over an alleged demand for Rs.10 lakh. The incident has also raised concerns among residents about the safety of people engaged in government-funded works and the need for timely police intervention when such allegations are reported.

Contractor Subhash Rishidas, a resident of Ramchandraghat, has alleged that he was attacked by a group of around 10–12 people while returning home from work on Sunday afternoon. The alleged incident took place near Dwarikapur School under Kalyanpur Police Station.

According to Rishidas, he had received a Public Works Department (PWD) contract for boulder-related work in the Dwarikapur area. He claimed that for approximately one and a half months after the work began, he had allegedly been facing demands for Rs.10 lakh, along with threats that he would not be allowed to continue the work if the money was not paid.

The contractor alleged that at around 4 pm on Sunday, a group of people stopped him near Dwarikapur School and assaulted him with sticks and other weapons. He identified several of the alleged attackers as Pulkesh Dhupi alias Abu, Papon Sarkar, Pritam Shukla Das, Biswajit Ghosh and Bapi Raut, while stating that he could not identify the other members of the group.

Rishidas has further alleged that the confrontation continued even after police personnel reached the spot and that he was again threatened with being prevented from carrying out the work unless the alleged Rs.10 lakh demand was met.

The incident has also led to allegations that several local residents who attempted to record the incident on their mobile phones had their devices damaged. According to the allegations, around eight mobile phones were broken, reportedly in the presence of police personnel.

The contractor, who reportedly suffered injuries in the alleged assault, has questioned the police response and approached the court on Tuesday, where he has reportedly initiated legal proceedings against the persons named in connection with the incident.

The allegations have generated concern among local residents, who are seeking a more proactive response from the police administration. Residents have called for the allegations to be properly investigated, the identities and roles of all persons allegedly involved to be established, and appropriate legal action to be taken if the charges are substantiated.

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