Two Detained After Firing on Tipra Motha Candidate in Maharani, DM Assures Arrest of 3 Alleged Shooters Within 3 Days
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, September 30, 2026
Tension in Maharani and adjoining areas of Gomati district eased temporarily on Tuesday late evening after police detained two youths allegedly linked to the firing incident in which a TIPRA Motha Village Committee candidate was injured during the TTAADC polls. The road blockade led by TIPRA Motha supporters was subsequently withdrawn following an assurance from the Gomati District Magistrate that the three persons allegedly directly involved in the firing would be arrested within three days.
The firing took place on Monday at Warengbari in the Maharani-Gamaria area during polling for the TTAADC Village Committee elections. TIPRA Motha candidate Khachindra Reang was injured in the incident, while two other party supporters were also reported injured. Police sources said the incident occurred at around 2 pm under RK Pur police station.
Following the incident, tension spread across Maharani, with TIPRA Motha supporters blocking roads and demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible. The party had also alleged that persons linked to the BJP were behind the attack, although the allegation has not been independently established. Police have been investigating the incident and attempting to identify those responsible.
According to TIPRA Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma, two youths from the Maharani area have meanwhile been detained by police in connection with the incident.
Debbarma said the three persons allegedly involved directly in the firing have been named in the FIR, and claimed that they are from the Jirania, Mandai and Khumulung areas. He further alleged that all three have links with the BJP.
The situation took a significant turn when the Gomati District Magistrate personally reached the Maharani Police Outpost area on Tuesday night after TIPRA Motha leaders demanded administrative intervention.
According to party leaders, the District Magistrate assured them that stringent action would be taken against those responsible and requested three days to complete the arrests.
Earlier, SDPO-level and other police officials had reportedly appealed to the protesters to withdraw the road blockade. However, the agitation continued, with supporters led by Ranjit Debbarma, MDC CK Jamatia subsequently surrounding the Maharani police outpost.
It was after the District Magistrate arrived and gave the three-day assurance that the protesters agreed to withdraw the blockade and the police station area was cleared.
Speaking to Tripurainfo.com about the development, Ranjit Debbarma said TIPRA Motha would wait for the administration to fulfil its commitment.
He warned that if the three alleged principal accused were not arrested within the promised three-day period, the party leadership would meet again and decide on what he described as the “strongest possible” course of action.
Debbarma also raised questions over TIPRA Motha's relationship with the BJP, saying that if the BJP leadership believed that its alliance partner could be treated in such a manner, TIPRA Motha could consider severing its relationship with the BJP.
The statement assumes significance because BJP and TIPRA Motha are alliance partners in the state government and had also reached a seat-sharing arrangement for the Village Committee elections.
Debbarma alleged that the responsibility for the prevailing tension in Gomati district lay largely with the police administration and what he described as political misinformation.
According to him, TIPRA Motha had sought stronger security arrangements in the ADC areas before the Village Committee elections, particularly in view of the sensitive political atmosphere.
He alleged that adequate preventive measures were not taken and claimed that BJP supporters were allowed to move around the polling areas with several vehicles and motorcycles on polling day. The developments in Maharani have also triggered questions about the effectiveness of policing during and after polling.
The firing incident occurred despite extensive security arrangements for the Village Committee elections. The State Election Commission had deployed 74 companies of Central Armed Police Forces along with nearly 9,000 personnel of Tripura Police and Tripura State Rifles across the state, according to reports.
The incident subsequently triggered road blockades and heightened tension in Maharani. Separate reports also emerged of clashes and an alleged assault involving police personnel in the area, further adding to the law-and-order concerns surrounding the post-poll situation.
more news...