Communal tensions erupt in North Tripura: Shiva temple, mosque vandalized; Internet suspended

Guwahati: Prohibitory order clamped and mobile internet services were suspended in the entire North Tripura District for three days after communal tensions flared up at Pekucherra on Tuesday after a Shiva temple and a mosque were vandalised.

A police official said that a large contingent of security forces including Tripura State Rifles were deployed after the unrest started late on Monday night when “unknown miscreants’ damaged a Shiva temple at Pekucherra.

He said in retaliation, a group of people vandalised a mosque causing serious tension in the entire mixed populated areas.

Home Secretary Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty suspended the mobile internet services in the entire North Tripura district for three days.

The District authority has promulgated the prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for three days in the entire Dharmanagar Sub-Division restricting movement of five or more people, public gatherings and carrying of lethal and non-lethal weapons by the civilians.

The Pekucherra incident occurred a week after a communal clash at nearby Kadamtala in the same North Tripura district leaving one dead and more than 17 people including policemen injured.

Director General of Police Amitabh Ranjan in an urgent order transferred the North Tripura District Superintendent of Police Bhanupada Chakraborty and directed Dhalai district SP Avinash Rai to look after the work of SP, North Tripura District, in addition.

Rai, who visited the troubled Pekucherra areas to assess the ground situation and to bring the situation under control, said that the latest situation is under control and peaceful.

“There were some minor clashes. Peace meetings are going on now. All senior officers are present on the spot. "