Agartala, Oct 23 (NationPress) Several officials, including a police officer, sustained injuries when a faction of the Tiprasa Civil Society (TCS) engaged in acts of arson and shop looting in Tripura's Dhalai district on Thursday evening amid a statewide 24-hour shutdown, as reported by officials.

The Tipra Motha Party (TMP)-affiliated TCS, headed by TMP MLA Ranjit Debbarma, organized the shutdown in support of its eight-point demands, which include the expulsion of illegal migrants.

A senior official from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) stated that Chief Minister Manik Saha strongly condemned the violence and instructed the police to take decisive action against those responsible.

In a post on his official X account, CM Saha remarked: “We categorically condemn the violent assault by Tipra Motha supporters on Shri Abhijit Majumdar (BDO, Salema), Engineer Shri Animesh Saha, and residents of Santirbazar, Dhalai district. Such violent actions are intolerable. The administration has been directed to execute swift and stern measures against the offenders.”

To avert further unrest, the Dhalai District Magistrate and Collector imposed a curfew indefinitely on Thursday night in the Kamalpur Sub-Division.

A police source in Agartala indicated that the violence erupted when shutdown supporters infiltrated the Santirbazar market area in the afternoon to enforce the shutdown. The TCS activists compelled shopkeepers to close their businesses, and when some traders resisted, a heated confrontation ensued.

Shortly thereafter, a larger group of supporters, outnumbering the deployed police, stormed the market and reportedly looted several establishments.

As tensions escalated, traders mounted a counter-resistance, leading to further clashes and escalating violence. Bandh supporters allegedly ignited a vehicle within the market, and when firefighters attempted to extinguish the blaze, the fire service vehicle was also attacked.

During the chaos, Kamalpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Samudra Debbarma suffered injuries after being struck on the head by a brick. Additionally, Salema Block Development Officer (BDO) Abhijit Majumdar was assaulted upon arriving at the scene.

His vehicle was targeted, resulting in head injuries. Engineer Animesh Saha was also attacked when he rushed to the market after learning of the BDO's assault.

A trader named Biplab Deb sustained a serious eye injury from a brick. All injured officials and the trader were rescued by fire service personnel and transported to Kamalpur Bimal Sinha Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.

Residents reported that the area remained tense despite the mobilization of significant additional security forces. Dhalai District Magistrate and Collector Vivek H.B. issued a notification imposing the curfew indefinitely under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to safeguard human life, public property, and maintain peace.

The order prohibits gatherings of more than four individuals, possession or use of weapons or hazardous materials, delivery of inflammatory speeches, sloganeering, or distribution of pamphlets inciting hatred. It also restricts the use of rooftops or premises for stone-pelting during riots and bans vehicle entry and movement in prohibited areas.

Another senior police official noted that to enforce the shutdown, demonstrators carrying national flags organized sit-ins at over 52 key locations and highways statewide, and at several points along railway tracks in West Tripura and Khowai districts on Thursday.