Questions Over Forest Department’s Written Undertaking After Kathalchhari Clash, Contrast Drawn With Police Action Against TET Job Aspirants

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 26, 2026

Questions have been raised over the role of senior officials of the Tripura Forest Department after forest personnel involved in an operation against alleged tree felling in the Kathalchhari–Ambassa area reportedly faced resistance and a confrontation, followed by a road blockade on the Assam–Agartala National Highway.

The controversy has intensified over reports that, as part of the subsequent settlement, a written undertaking was given concerning the conduct of Forest Department personnel during future operations against tree cutting. Critics are questioning how senior Forest Department officials could agree to an undertaking that may be interpreted as requiring their frontline personnel to exercise restraint or refrain from taking stringent action while enforcing forest laws.

According to reports, the incident occurred at Nakul Para in the Kathalchhari area of Dhalai district after Forest Department personnel went to the locality following information about alleged tree felling. A confrontation reportedly developed between forest personnel and local villagers. One forest worker, identified as Chiranjit Debbarma, was injured. There were also allegations that three rounds were fired by forest personnel during the confrontation, one report described the ammunition as blank rounds used as a precaution.

Following the confrontation, villagers reportedly blocked the Assam–Agartala National Highway, disrupting traffic for several hours. Police and senior officials reached the spot and held discussions with the protesters. Reports said that the protesters raised livelihood concerns and argued that some families depended on the sale of forest resources and trees for their income.

The central controversy, however, concerns what happened after the confrontation. The local residents report provided to Tripurainfo indicates that the Forest Department authorities subsequently accepted the protesters' demands and obtained a written undertaking in connection with lifting the road blockade. The undertaking reportedly included a commitment relating to the manner in which forest personnel would conduct themselves during future operations against tree felling.

This has prompted a fundamental question: Can Forest Department officers responsible for protecting forests give a written undertaking that could restrict or discourage strict action against future violations?

Forest personnel are deployed to prevent illegal felling and protect forest resources. If officers face resistance while performing these duties, the normal expectation would be that the administration provides them with adequate security and legal support. The reported undertaking has therefore raised concerns among sections of the public and within discussions surrounding forest protection over whether the enforcement mechanism is being weakened.

At the same time, the livelihood concerns raised by the villagers cannot be ignored. Reports indicate that the protesters claimed they depended on cutting and selling trees because of a lack of alternative employment and income. Such concerns require an administrative response, but the issue of livelihood protection remains separate from the legal responsibility to prevent unauthorised destruction of forest resources.

The episode has also generated comparisons with the police action against TET-qualified unemployed youths in Agartala just a day earlier.

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