Another 3 Separate Incidents Cast a Shadow Over Durga Puja Celebrations in Tripura: 2 Young Men Die, Mystery Surrounds Recovery of Body Near Railway Tracks in Jirania
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, October 20, 2026
While thousands of people across Tripura were immersed in Durga Puja celebrations, a series of disturbing incidents reported from different parts of the state raised concerns over public safety during the festive season. The recovery of a young man’s body beside railway tracks in Jirania, the death of a 20-year-old youth in a road accident near Kailashahar, and an alleged assault on a private vehicle driver following a collision involving two Tripura State Rifles (TSR) vehicles in Chailengta have drawn public attention.
In Jirania, tension and speculation spread after the body of Rupak Das was reportedly recovered beside the railway tracks in the Jaykrishna Cobra Para area. According to preliminary local reports, the recovery of the body came after hours of festivities, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his death. The exact cause of death and the events preceding the incident remain unclear. It has not yet been established whether the death resulted from an accident or involved any other circumstances. A detailed investigation and an official statement from the authorities would be necessary to establish the facts.
In another tragic incident, a 20-year-old youth, identified as Uday Gour, died after a truck allegedly hit him while he was returning home after visiting Durga Puja pandals. The accident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Tuesday near the Chaintail Bridge in the Chandipur area of Kailashahar. Two other persons were reportedly seriously injured in the incident. The accident has once again highlighted the risks faced by people travelling late at night during the festive season, when roads remain busy with pandal-hoppers and returning visitors. Further details regarding the injured persons, the circumstances of the collision and any police action were not immediately available.
Meanwhile, an incident in Chailengta market in the Longtharai Valley subdivision triggered controversy on Mahanavami after two TSR vehicles were reportedly involved in a collision near the Baba Longtharai Temple. The incident allegedly led to an assault on the driver of a private Bolero vehicle by TSR personnel, according to local accounts.
Sources said the incident occurred at approximately 1 pm on Mahanavami, when the Commandant of the 15th Battalion of TSR was travelling towards the TSR 8th Battalion camp in Chailengta. Another vehicle belonging to the force was reportedly travelling ahead of the commandant’s vehicle. According to the account available locally, the front vehicle applied its brakes while both vehicles were moving, following which the commandant’s vehicle collided with its rear.
At around the same time, a private Bolero driver was reportedly attempting to move from the right side of the road towards the left. The circumstances surrounding the movement of the private vehicle and its possible connection to the collision remain unclear. The driver was allegedly held responsible for the incident and subsequently beaten by TSR personnel, according to allegations raised by local sources. The Bolero reportedly did not sustain any damage.
The alleged assault prompted resentment among people present in the area. Some local residents questioned why the private driver should have been subjected to physical violence, even if any negligence on his part was suspected. They argued that any complaint against a driver should be dealt with through lawful procedures rather than physical punishment.
Police from Chailengta reportedly reached the scene after receiving information about the incident. However, an official account confirming the sequence of events, the allegations of assault and the role of the personnel involved was not immediately available. The driver's account and the findings of any police inquiry are also awaited.
Taken together, these three incidents have raised questions about public safety during the Durga Puja period, particularly regarding late-night road travel and the handling of disputes following road accidents. While the deaths in Jirania and Kailashahar require clarity regarding their circumstances, the allegations emerging from Chailengta call for an impartial examination of the collision and the reported assault.
The recovery of Rupak Das’s body must be investigated to determine the cause of death, while the Kailashahar accident warrants a thorough examination of the circumstances leading to the fatal collision and the injuries suffered by two others.
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