A road accident involving two vehicles of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) triggered tension at Chailengta Bazaar in Longtharai Valley subdivision of Dhalai district on Tuesday afternoon after a private Bolero driver allegedly was assaulted by TSR personnel. The incident occurred near the Baba Longtharai Temple during the Maha Navami festivities.
According to local sources, the incident took place at around 1 pm when the Commandant of the 15th Battalion of the TSR was travelling towards the 8th Battalion TSR camp at Chailengta. Another TSR vehicle was moving ahead of the Commandant's vehicle. Sources said the lead vehicle suddenly applied brakes, causing the Commandant's vehicle to ram into it from behind.
At the same time, a private Bolero vehicle was reportedly attempting to cross from the right side of the road to the left when the TSR convoy was passing through the area. Following the collision between the two TSR vehicles, the Bolero driver was allegedly blamed for the incident.
Local residents alleged that TSR personnel later called the Bolero driver and physically assaulted him. The injured driver was admitted to Chailengta Sub-Divisional Hospital for treatment. However, sources said the Bolero vehicle itself did not sustain any damage in the incident.
The alleged assault sparked resentment among local people, many of whom questioned the treatment meted out to the civilian driver. Residents said that even if there were allegations against him, the matter should have been dealt with through legal procedures rather than through physical violence. They also expressed concern over the conduct of security personnel towards civilians.
Police from Chailengta Police Station reached the spot after receiving information about the incident. However, no official statement has yet been issued regarding the exact cause of the collision, the assault allegations, or the role of the TSR personnel involved.
The incident has raised several questions, including whether the collision occurred solely because the lead TSR vehicle braked suddenly, what evidence existed against the Bolero driver, and whether excessive force was used against him after the accident.
Local residents have demanded a fair and impartial investigation into the incident. They said the injured driver's statement and the official version from the police and the concerned authorities would be crucial in establishing the facts surrounding the case.