Protest march in Kailashahar turns violent

Agartala, Apr 12, 2025, By Our Correspondent

Agartala: April 12: A protest march organized by the Joint Forum in Kailashahar today turned violent, resulting in several injuries and arrests. The march, aimed at demanding the repeal of the Waqf Amendment Act, began from Tilabazar and was set to conclude at the old office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. However, before it could reach its destination, police intercepted the march at Kubjar, sparking tension between demonstrators and law enforcement.

According to reports, the confrontation escalated when police resorted to light baton charges to disperse the crowd, prompting a violent response from some protesters. A clash ensued, during which stones were allegedly hurled at police personnel, injuring several, including officer Debjit Das. The police also sustained minor injuries, and in the chaos, tear gas was deployed to bring the situation under control. Around seven individuals were arrested in connection with the violence.

High-ranking officials, including DIG Rathiranjan Debnath and district police officers, rushed to the scene. Though the situation had de-escalated by the time they arrived, a heavy security presence—including TSR, CRPF, and BSF—was deployed across Kailashahar to prevent further unrest.

DIG Debnath confirmed to the media that the police were attacked during the march, which led to a scuffle and subsequent injuries. He emphasized that the police had to act swiftly to prevent further escalation. Meanwhile, the incident sparked a heated verbal exchange between the district superintendent of police and Congress leader Badruzzaman.

Currently, the situation in Kailashahar remains under control, but tense. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the incident to identify those responsible for the violence. Security forces remain on high alert in the region to ensure peace and order.