Late-Night Police Controversy Bishramganj Bus Molestation Case Triggers Violence, Arrest, 72-Hour Ultimatum,
In Tripura’s Bishramganj, the alleged molestation of an 18-year-old student on a moving bus on August 5 led to the arrest of accused Sukumar Banik under the Chief Minister’s orders. The incident sparked mob violence at Bishramganj market, injuring six and prompting a 24-hour ban on public gatherings under BNSS Section 163. Two FIRs were filed — one for molestation and one for the violence. Transport unions have given police a 72-hour deadline to arrest all those involved in the vandalism, warning of larger protests if unmet. Meanwhile, fresh controversy arose when villagers from Bishramganj, Ramnagar, and Rampadha Para alleged that around 2 AM, five police vehicles arrived, officers appeared drunk, kicked doors, and fled after residents began filming them.
NETB24
Tension remains high in Bishramganj, Tripura, following the alleged molestation of an 18-year-old student aboard a moving bus on August 5. The accused, Sukumar Banik of Chandranagar in Bishalgarh, was arrested late Wednesday night under the direct instructions of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha. The arrest was executed by a joint team from the Crime Branch, Sepahijala district administration, and Bishalgarh Police.
Police reports say the victim, a student returning from Guwahati, alleged that a co-passenger misbehaved with her during the journey between Bishalgarh and Bishramganj. The incident sparked immediate outrage, with a mob attacking the bus and nearby shops at Bishramganj market that night, injuring at least six people. Buses were vandalised and passengers assaulted.
To restore order, authorities imposed a 24-hour restriction on public gatherings under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Two separate FIRs have been registered — one for the molestation allegation and another for the mob violence.
On Thursday, the unrest escalated politically when the Sipahijala Tripura Bus-Jeep Drivers’ Association and the Sonamura–Agartala Bus Owners’ Association, both affiliated with the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, filed separate complaints at Bishramganj Police Station. Leaders Biplab Majumdar, Sajal Kumar Deb, Yusuf Mia Panna Gan, and affected bus owner Swapan Chandra Saha met Sepahijala Superintendent of Police Vijay Debbarma, giving a 72-hour ultimatum to arrest all those responsible for the August 5 violence. They warned that failure to act within the deadline would lead them to approach the Transport Minister and Chief Minister and launch a larger agitation.
Adding to the controversy, villagers from Bishramganj, Ramnagar, and Rampadha Para informed local media about a late-night police incident around 2 AM. According to residents, about five police vehicles arrived in the villages. Witnesses alleged that some officers appeared to have consumed alcohol and forcibly kicked on house doors. When villagers began recording the events on their phones, the police reportedly fled the scene. The footage, villagers claim, is now circulating among community members.
As of now, the molestation investigation continues, the unions’ deadline is counting down, and the late-night police conduct has raised fresh questions for the administration. Security remains heightened in Bishramganj and surrounding areas.
By Choba Tripura
