Chottakhola: Tension escalated sharply in Chottakhola under the belonia subdivision of South Tripura on Wednesday after a protest rally organized by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The procession, held to observe the martyrdom day of late CPIM leader Badal Chandra Shil, faced intense resistance from local villagers and opposing political workers.
The situation turned volatile when a large group of local villagers, primarily women, blocked the main road. The protestors accused the CPIM of masterminding the recent re-arrest and bail cancellation of seven local individuals falsely implicated in Shil’s 2024 murder case.
Anticipating a breakdown of law and order, a large contingent of Tripura Police led by senior officers rushed to the spot and halted the rally midway. CPIM State Secretary and Leader of the Opposition, Jitendra Chaudhury, condemned the disruption, stating that the party had obtained prior administrative permission. He accused the ruling government of throttling democracy and sheltering miscreants. Security forces remain heavily deployed in the Chottakhola area to prevent any further communal or political flare-ups.