A group of men found the most unusual target for their heist – the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) camp office in Tripura’s Agartala.

The theft came to light when CBI officials visited the office at the highly-protected Shyamali Bazar quarter complex on February 11, only to find the premises devoid of any belongings or furniture. The thieves had made off with everything in the office, but its walls – steel almirahs, chairs, electric appliances, doors and even windows. The office had remained closed since five months.

After CBI Inspector Anurag filed a complaint, an investigation into the theft was launched. Initial interrogation led to the arrest of two suspects – Biplab Debbarma and Raju Bhowmik. Soon, four more suspects were held from the adjoining Shyamali Bazar and Khejur Bagan areas, situated on the outskirts of Agartala.

The police successfully recovered eight steel almirahs, seven wooden chairs, four windows, a geyser and four chairs.

The suspects, now in police custody, will be produced in court. The police are continuing their investigation to find out if there are more stolen items and if bigger schemes are at work behind the theft.

Few of detainees are also drug addicts, police told PTI.

In a disturbing incident, a woman in the Lalsinghmura area of Bishalgarh in Tripura’s Sepahijala district was allegedly assaulted and had her head partially shaved by a group of other women.

Police from Bishalgarh Women Police Station rescued the victim after receiving information about the incident and brought her to the station for safety and initial inquiry.

Inspector Shiuli Das, in-charge of the Bishalgarh Women Police Station, who is investigating the matter stated that the attack was reportedly carried out by members of a local Self-Help Group (SHG).

The victim alleged that a group of women assaulted her and shaved half of her head, possibly over a financial dispute involving money borrowed from the SHG. “We are conducting a thorough investigation to uncover the facts,” the police officer told media.

The victim recounted the harrowing incident, claiming that around 15-20 local women barged into her home while she was in the kitchen. After a brief conversation about her travel plans, the group allegedly dragged her outside, rebuked her, assaulted her, and shaved half of her head.

She added that the attackers demanded she immediately return the money borrowed by her husband from the SHG, prompting the violent act.

Police have filed a suo motu case against 20-21 unnamed individuals under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including Section 74 for outraging the modesty of a woman, Section 115(2) for voluntarily causing hurt, and Section 3(5) for common intention.

Agartala:

Agartala Tripura Police on Saturday detained 10 Bangladeshi nationals, belonging to the Hindu community, for illegally entering India after fleeing their village due to unrest and tensions, an official said.

A police officer said that the 10 Bangladeshi nationals – including two women, three teenagers and an elderly person – were detained from the Ambassa railway station in Tripura while they were trying to board train bound for Silchar in Assam. 

“We will initiate legal proceedings against the Bangladeshi nationals as per law,” the official said.

Sankar Chandra Sarkar, one of the persons detained, said they fled from their village, Dhanpur in Kishoreganj district, after facing continuous threats and intimidation.

“After trekking through forested hills, we entered India on Saturday through Kamalpur (in Tripura’s Dhalai district). We were trying to go to Silchar in Assam to stay in a rented house.

“We will never return to Bangladesh under any circumstances. The situation in Bangladesh is very grim. Attacks on the lives and properties of Hindus have become an everyday affair,” Mr Sarkar, who worked as a driver, said.

Talking to the media, the Bangladeshi nationals said they sold some of their properties before fleeing to India but had to abandon many of their properties and household goods and assets.

Mr Sarkar also claimed that thousands of Hindu families wanted to come to India, but were unable to do so for various reasons.

“During the Awami League government headed by then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we were happy and there was no enmity between the Hindus and Muslims in our areas. But after the caretaker government headed by Muhammad Yunus assumed office, we were continuously harassed and threatened,” he said.

Over the last four months, over 550 Bangladeshi nationals and over 63 Rohingyas have been detained by the Government Railway Police, Border Security Force (BSF), and Tripura Police from the Agartala railway station and various other places in Tripura after they illegally entered India.

After the Bangladesh unrest began in June-July, the BSF enhanced surveillance along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border with the neighbouring country to prevent transborder crime and infiltration, officials from the force said.

Five Indian states – West Bengal (2,216 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam ( 263 km) share a border with Bangladesh.

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

Agartala:

The Border Security Force (BSF) 81 Battalion, stationed in Sonamura under Sepahijala District seized two kilograms and 177 grams of gold, valued at approximately Rs 1.74 crore from NC Nagar, said officials on Thursday.

Based on the inputs received, BSF launched an operation which concluded till 9 pm on Thursday, said officials.

2-3 Bangladeshi smugglers crossed the border and discarded some items toward the border. However the smugglers managed to flee due to heavy fog, said officials.

Assistant Commandant, BSF 81 Battalion, Somil Vohra stated, “Last evening, around 6 PM, we received an input stating that there was a possibility of gold smuggling through the NC Nagar border. To intercept this, we quickly set up an ambush with my team. Our operation lasted from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM. At 8:45, 2-3 Bangladeshi smugglers crossed the border and entered our side, discarding some items toward the border. We waited for a person from our side to retrieve the items, and as soon as he did, our ACP issued a challenge call. We immediately rushed toward the area, but due to heavy fog, the smugglers managed to flee…”

Second in Command, BSF 81 Battalion, Rajesh Kumar Langeh said, “Our battalion is stationed in Sonamura. Last night, our company deployed in NC Nagar achieved a significant breakthrough. We have successfully seized 2 kilograms and 177 grams of gold, valued at Rs 1.74 crore in the market. As you are aware, the BSF always remains on high alert. Considering the prevailing conditions in Bangladesh, our security measures are at the highest level. During a search operation last night, our personnel seized the gold…”

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

Guwahati:
Hotels and restaurants in Tripura will not temporarily accept bookings from tourists from Bangladesh, the top association of the travel sector in the northeast state said in a statement, amid the strain in diplomatic ties between the two neighbours.

Here’s your 10-point cheat sheet to this big story

Hardik Pandya hit a quickfire 47 off just 23 balls, including 28 runs in a single over vs Tripura.© X (Twitter)

Agartala:

A day after a Kolkata hospital decided not to treat patients from Bangladesh over alleged atrocities against minority Hindus, a multi-specialty healthcare facility in Agartala followed suit on Saturday.

Agartala-based ILS Hospital, which has been a popular destination for patients from the neighbouring country due to its proximity and affordable treatment costs, said the decision was taken over atrocities against Hindus and disrespect to the national flag in Bangladesh.

On Friday, JN Ray Hospital in north Kolkata stopped treating patients from the neighbouring country for the same reasons.

ILS hospital chief operating officer Gautam Hazarika said, “We extend full support to the demand of suspension of treatment to people from Bangladesh at our health facility. Our help desks at Akhaura check post and ILS hospitals have been closed from today onwards.”

Hazarika’s remarks came in response to a group of people who had staged a protest at the hospital, demanding that the facility stop providing medical services to Bangladeshi citizens, citing disrespect towards the Indian flag and growing concerns over the treatment of Hindus in the neighbouring country.

One of the protestors said, “Disrespect to the Indian national flag and attacks on minorities is totally unrespectable. Fundamentalists are imparting training to students on how to disrespect our national flags.”

The protestor added, “We appeal to other institutions to stop providing any services to Bangladesh citizens.” “Seeing the tricolour being insulted, we have decided to stop treating Bangladeshis. India has played an important role in their independence but despite that, we are witnessing anti-India sentiments. We hope other hospitals will support us and take similar steps,” JN Ray Hospital official Subhranshu Bhakt said on Friday. 

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

Tejasvi Jaiswal, elder brother of star India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, was in the news recently, having scored his maiden First-Class half-century in the 4th round of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. A southpaw, just like his brother, Tejasvi scored 82 runs with the bat in his only innings and picked a wicket in the Ranji game for Tripura against Baroda at Agartala. While Yashasvi is enjoying life as an all-format India cricketer, having embarked on his first Test tour of Australia, Tejasvi once had to quit cricket so that his brother could achieve his dreams.

In a recent interview, Tejasvi revealed that both him and Yashasvi had moved to Mumbai to pursue their dreams, but only one could afford to pursue the sport.

“I also wanted to play cricket, but the financial situation of our family was not good. Yashasvi was doing well… So by the end of 2013, I quit Mumbai and cricket and moved to Delhi, where a relative runs a shop,” Tejasvi told The Indian Express.

Tejasvi also recalled being accused of age fraud, and the accusations made his decision to quit cricket at that time much easier as he didn’t want to jeopardise Yashasvi’s chances.

“I played one game in the Harris Shield and picked up seven wickets. Then people started saying that I had an age-verification issue. I was benched for a year and a half. Yashasvi was doing extremely well and I didn’t want his prospects to be affected because of me. Anyway, Mumbai was too expensive for both of us. It was getting difficult for both of us to have two meals a day. At that point Jwala sir, Yashasvi’s coach, wasn’t in the picture yet,” he added.

Tejasvi, now 27, had left Mumbai at the age of 17 to work as a salesman. With the help of his earnings, Tejasvi also got his two sisters married, and would also send pocket money to Jaiswal in Mumbai.

“By 2021, my sisters got married and Yashasvi got the IPL contract. Life eased for us after that,” Tejasvi insisted.

Guwahati:

Tripura’s minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Sudhangshu Das, has sparked controversy with his comment that if Muslims have Wakf Board, Hindus should be entitled to have ‘Sanatan Board’. Other communities like Christians and Sikhs should have their separate boards, he said in a social media post, adding that unless that happens, all such boards should be cancelled.

In a post from his official Facebook handle, Sudhangshu Das wrote, “This country is a secular and democratic country as per the Indian Constitution, where all citizens have equal rights”.

“So, if Muslims have Wakf Board, then there should be Sanatan Board for Hindus, separate boards should be given for Christians, Sikhs and all other religions, or else (such boards) for all religions should be cancelled and equal rights for all citizens should be introduced,” read a rough translation of his Bengali post.

“This is my appeal to the Government of India,” he added with the hashtag #HinduUnity.

The post has led to sharp reaction from the Opposition.

“He (Das) has been sworn in twice as MLA, once as minister till now. All those oaths were taken in the name of the Constitution but it seems he has failed to develop respect and show dignity for the Constitution. He has made several other comments previously that we objected to. If he chooses to make such comments, he should step down from his government position and then make random comments as a common public,” said CPM state secretary and former Lok Sabha MP Jitendra Chaudhary.

Mr Das is no stranger to controversies.  

In September this year, he landed in another controversy by saying in a social media post that he felt Hindus did not have the moral right to perform puja of gods and goddesses any more. A community that can’t save its deities and temples from infidel jihadis (bidhormi jihadi), does not have the right, he wrote.

Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), which signed a peace accord with the Bangladesh government in 1997 to end decades of insurgency, has made a set of demands in wake to recent communal clashes in three hill districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), located in close proximity to Tripura. The PCJSS, the apex body of the indigenous people, commonly known as Jummas, has accused Bangladesh government forces and Bengali “settlers” of causing the clashes resulting in loss of lives and destruction of homes and shops.

In a statement released on Thursday (October 3, 2024), the group’s Assistant Media Secretary Sajib Chakma stated that the solution to the crisis lies in the full implementation of the CHT Accord. “There is no alternative to a political and peaceful solution to the CHT crisis without the implementation of the CHT Accord of 1997,” Chakma said.

The clashes on September 19 and 20 in Khagrachari, Dighinala, and Rangamati resulted in the deaths of five people including one Bengali and four tribal men. The statement also claimed that hundreds of Jumma people were injured and over 100 houses and shops, including the CHT Regional Council office, were burned and looted.

The PCJSS has made three demands to the interim government of Bangladesh calling for immediate action to bring justice to the tribal people. These demands include a judicial probe into the communal attacks, proper compensation for the families of those killed and injured and punishment for those involved in the attacks.

Interestingly, the PCJSS earlier refused to join with its rivals, the UPDF and UPDF (Democratic), to issue a joint statement condemning the incidents in the CHT. These groups often engage in violent clashes in an attempt to expand their influence over the hill tracts.