Agartala:

A 62-year-old woman was tied to a tree and allegedly burnt alive by her two sons in West Tripura, officials said on Sunday.

Police said they have arrested the sons, and suspect that a family dispute might have led to the gruesome murder.

The incident happened on Saturday night in Khamarbari in the Champaknagar police station area, they said.

The woman lived with her two sons after she lost her husband around one-and-a-half-year ago. Her other son lived in Agartala.

“After receiving an input that a woman was set on fire, a police team rushed there and found the burnt body tied to a tree. We took the body to the hospital for post-mortem examination,” Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Jirania Kamal Krishna Koloi told PTI.

“We have arrested her two sons for their alleged involvement in the case. They will be produced before the court on Monday, seeking police remand for interrogation. A family dispute may be the reason behind the incident,” he said.

An investigation is underway, he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

At least a dozen houses and a few vehicles were set on fire by unidentified persons after an idol was found defaced at a temple in flood-hit Tripura, the police said on Monday, adding no one was reported injured.

The incident was reported from Ranirbazar district in West Tripura, some 10 km from capital Agartala.

There is heavy security deployment in the area to defuse tension, also prohibitory orders have been imposed in the Jirania subdivision under which Ranirbazar falls.

Under the prohibitory orders, assembly of five or more people is not allowed.

“Around 12 houses were set on fire at Ranirbazar by miscreants late on Sunday after an idol of Goddess Kali was found disfigured in Kaiturbari. A few motorcycles and pick-up vans were also gutted in the blaze,” Assistant Inspector General (Law and Order) Ananta Das told news agency PTI.

Witnesses said that the residents fled upon seeing the raging mob.

“Police will register a suo moto case once the assessment of loss of properties is completed. The situation is under control,” said the top police officer.

Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, expressing concern over the incident, has appealed to everyone to maintain law and order.

“Last night incident in Ranirbazar Kaiturbari area is a worrying sign with reports of communal clashes. I appeal to those who are responsible for maintaining law and order to follow the rule of law,” he wrote on Facebook.

“When our state is reeling under a natural disaster and so much of stress is there, some elements are only playing religious politics. Miscreants regardless of their faith must be dealt with firmly — law has to be neutral to all. I ask for Tripura to unite in these tough times and not fight with each other,” he added.

At least 26 persons have died and 1.17 lakh people have been rendered homeless in Tripura due to devastating floods since August 19.

Agartala:

Twenty-three Bangladeshi nationals preparing to board a train to Chennai were arrested at Agartala railway station, an official said on Sunday.

Based on specific information, a joint team from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Border Security Force (BSF), and Government Railway Police (GRP) conducted a raid at Agartala station on Saturday evening and detained the Bangladeshi nationals who did not have valid documents to travel on Indian soil, officer-in-charge of GRP police station in Agartala, Tapas Das, said.

They were remanded to three-day police custody after being presented before a local court, he added.

The arrested people, aged between 21 and 49, had planned to travel to Chennai via Guwahati in search of employment.

In response to the increase in arrests of Bangladeshi nationals at Agartala station, the BSF’s intelligence wing has enhanced its surveillance in and around railway stations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A woman cries next to her damaged vehicle after violence erupted in the area following the death of a tribal youth in a group clash, in Dhalai district, on July 13, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Several shops were torched and houses damaged in Tripura’s Dhalai district following the death of a tribal youth in a group clash, prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders, the police said on July 13.

The 19-year-old college student, who sustained serious injuries in a clash between two groups at Gandatwisa in Dhalai district on July 7, passed away at GBP Hospital here on Friday.

Additional police personnel have been deployed in the village after Friday’s arson and Internet services have been suspended in the area. Four persons have been arrested in connection with the death of the youth, the police said.

According to the police sources, Parmeshwar Reang, accompanied by his friends, had visited the Gandatwisa market to attend a fair organised on the occasion of Rath Yatra.

“Suddenly, a clash erupted between two groups of youths, during which Reang sustained severe injuries. Initially admitted to Gandatwisa hospital, he was later transferred to GBP hospital as his condition worsened. He succumbed to his injuries on Friday,” Dhalai SP Avinash Rai told PTI.

“After his body was brought back to Gandatwisa, around 110 kilometre from Agartala, emotions ran high and some houses and shops were vandalised in anger. We have arrested four persons in connection with the murder. Prohibitory orders have been enforced in Gandatwisa with heightened police presence to prevent further escalation,” he added.

TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarman has appealed for peace in Dhalai district of the State. He has spoken to senior police officers and demanded action against the culprits.

The police have claimed that the situation is under control despite the prevailing tension. Senior leaders from indigenous communities and a team of Ministers is expected to visit Gandatwisa on Saturday.

(With PTI inputs)

Agartala:

Tripura government on Wednesday said that 1790 persons were infected by HIV/AIDS with a positivity rate of 0.92 per cent during 2023-24.

The officials said as part of the National AIDS Control Programme, the government has taken a series of measures to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.

Tripura State AIDS Control Society Project Director Samarpita Dutta said that in 2022-23, sixty seven people including two students died and in 2023-24, forty four people died after being infected by HIV/AIDS.

During 2022-23, new HIV/AIDS infection was detected among 1847 people with a positivity rate of infection was 0.89 per cent.

Dutta said that the National AIDS Control Programme has been implemented in Tripura since April, 1999.

Between April 2007 and May 2024, 828 students registered as PLHIV (People Living With HIV/AIDS) and 47 of them died during the period of 17 years.

“Tripura State AIDS Control Society has taken all initiatives to control the menace as per specific guidelines and action plan designed by National AIDS Control Organization,” Dutta told the media.

She said that 828 students registered over the last many years in ART centres are all getting free Anti Retroviral Treatment as per NACO guidelines.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who himself is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and served in a key position at a medical college here before becoming Chief Minister, said that the state government has taken various measures to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.

“It has come to our notice that some recent media reports have led to misgivings on the number of infected students and fatalities. It has been clarified by the department concerned that a total of 828 students in Tripura have tested HIV positive and 47 have lost lives over a period of 17 years (from April, 2007 to May, 2024).

“All affected students have received or have been receiving free Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) as per the NACO guidelines,” Saha, who also holds the Health and Family Welfare portfolio, said in a post on the X.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Agartala:

At least 30 girl students fell ill after having a meal at a hostel run by an NGO in West Tripura district on Thursday, an official said.

The state government ordered an inquiry into the suspected food poisoning of girl students of Bodhjung Higher Secondary School and Maharani Tulsibati School, West Tripura District Magistrate Vishal Kumar told reporters.

The girl students of the two government schools resided in the NGO-hostel in Indranagar area and had the meal before going to their respective institutions.

“Two girls first complained of stomach pain and soon, more students reported the same issue. The students were taken to GBP Hospital,” he said.

“Food samples were collected from the hostel for scrutiny. We will take appropriate steps if anything adverse is found in the food served to the girl students by the hostel authorities. The condition of the students is stated to be stable,” he said.

Chief Minister Manik Saha, who visited the students at the hospital, said it appeared to be a case of food poisoning.

“The students are stable… the government has ordered an inquiry into the incident for taking necessary steps,” the CM added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)