TTAADC Polls : SEC Calls Election ‘Peaceful’ as Gomati Witnesses Firing, Clashes and Attacks on Several Police Officials
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, September 29, 2026
The TTAADC Village Committee elections concluded on Monday with the State Election Commission describing the overall polling process as peaceful and fair, even as several serious incidents, including firing, clashes and alleged attacks on political workers, polling agents and police personnel, were reported from parts of Gomati district.
Addressing a press conference after polling, State Election Commissioner PK Chakraborty said the average polling percentage had crossed 79 per cent by the evening. He said voters who were standing in queues after the scheduled 4 PM closing time were allowed to cast their votes after being issued slips. Nearly 8,000 voters were reportedly waiting in queues at different polling locations.
The SEC maintained that polling was conducted peacefully and fairly across the state and that no major law-and-order incident was reported at the overall state level.
However, the official assessment stands in contrast to reports emerging from Gomati district, particularly the Gamaria–Maharani–Wareng Bari areas, where the polling process was accompanied by serious allegations of violence.
One of the most serious incidents was reported from Wareng Bari under the Gamaria area, where Tipra Motha Village Committee candidate Khachindra Reang was allegedly shot by unidentified persons. Reports said that two other persons were also injured in the incident. Police subsequently launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the firing.
The incident triggered protests and road blockades, with Tipra Motha supporters demanding the arrest of those allegedly responsible.
Tension subsequently escalated in the Gamaria–Maharani area, where Gomati SP Anirban Das was reportedly injured during a clash near a strongroom. Reports said he sustained a head injury amid an altercation involving political activists and security personnel.
The situation reportedly deteriorated further at Maharani, where the official vehicle of Udaipur SDPO Debanjali Roy was allegedly vandalised. Police reportedly resorted to lathi-charge to disperse protesters after the situation became tense.
There were also reports of clashes and counter-clashes involving election-related personnel and political supporters in different parts of Gomati district.
The polling day also saw allegations from the CPI(M) regarding obstruction of its candidates and polling agents, alleged bogus voting and difficulties in accessing some polling stations. The party has demanded re-polling in booths where it claims serious irregularities occurred. The BJP has denied allegations of widespread electoral malpractice. Thus, while the State Election Commission has characterised the election as peaceful and fair overall, reports from Gomati indicate that the polling process was not entirely free from violence and confrontation.
Despite the incidents, voter participation remained high. PK Chakraborty said average polling had crossed 79 per cent, with voting continuing beyond 4 PM at several polling stations because voters were still waiting in queues.
Notably, the election covered 587 Village Committees, with 8,176 candidates contesting the seats that went to the polls. The final turnout figure will be known after the complete polling data are compiled.
The contrasting accounts, the SEC's assessment of an overall peaceful election and the reports of serious incidents in Gomati, are likely to remain a major point of discussion as political parties prepare for the next stage of the electoral process and the counting of votes.
more news...