Extortion complaints surface on Tripura roads amid festive season

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, October 3, 2026

With the festive season underway, complaints of motorists being stopped and asked to pay money in the name of puja donations have surfaced from different parts of Tripura, raising concerns over traffic safety and the manner in which collections are being carried out on public roads.

Residents and motorists have alleged that vehicles, including cars, goods carriers and two-wheelers, are being stopped at different locations, particularly during the evening and at night, and asked to make payments towards puja or club collections. In some cases, motorists have alleged that refusing to pay or offering a smaller amount has led to arguments and threats.

The allegations have triggered questions over the use of public roads for collection drives and the extent of police monitoring during the festive period.

The most serious concerns relate to the reported stopping of vehicles on national highways. Motorists have alleged that groups of people stand near roads and signal vehicles to stop before asking drivers for money. Two-wheeler riders, too, have reportedly been approached for contributions.

Such activity, if carried out on busy stretches of highways, has implications beyond inconvenience. Sudden stopping of vehicles, particularly after dark, can disrupt traffic and increase the risk of accidents. It can also result in congestion on roads that carry inter-district and commercial traffic.

The complaints are not confined to highways. Residents in several localities have also raised concerns over the manner in which donations are being sought by clubs and puja committees. While voluntary contributions are a longstanding feature of community festivals, residents have alleged that some collection drives have crossed the line between seeking donations and exerting pressure on people to pay.

For many households, the cumulative burden of repeated requests for money during the festive season has become a source of concern. Small traders, salaried employees, transport workers and others have complained that they are approached by multiple organisations, sometimes with demands for fixed amounts.

The issue has also brought the question of accountability into focus. Residents have asked whether there are clear guidelines governing the collection of donations on public roads and whether permission is required before vehicles are stopped for such purposes.

The allegations, however, do not apply to all clubs or puja committees. A large number of community organisations collect donations voluntarily and conduct their festivities without disrupting traffic or coercing residents. The concern is over instances where collection allegedly involves obstruction, intimidation or the forced stopping of vehicles.

The police and civil administration are now expected to keep a close watch on major roads and vulnerable stretches during the festival period. Increased night patrols and intervention where traffic is obstructed could help prevent disputes from escalating and ensure the safety of motorists.

For ordinary residents, the issue is increasingly being framed not merely as a matter of puja donations but of public order. National highways and other major roads are public spaces meant for safe and uninterrupted movement. Stopping vehicles for money, if done without lawful authority, raises questions that go beyond the collection of festival funds.

The festive season is traditionally associated with community participation and voluntary contributions. The complaints emerging from different parts of the State have nevertheless put the spotlight on where that participation ends and coercion begins.

The immediate challenge for the authorities is to ensure that festive activities do not translate into obstruction or intimidation on roads, while legitimate community celebrations continue without unnecessary restrictions.

For motorists and residents, the expectation is straightforward: festivities should bring celebration, not fear or repeated demands for money; and public roads should remain safe and free for movement.

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