Two days after the arrest of five police personnel in connection with an alleged custodial torture case that resulted the death of Badal Tripura, a villager of Kaladhepa village of Manu Bazar police station under South Tripura district, the Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) took suo motu cognisance of the matter.

Official sources said that the commission directed the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct an inquiry and submit an interim report within 15 days.

The THRC, led by Justice SC Das and members BK Ray and U Choudhuri, stated in a letter: “The allegation as appeared in the news items attracts the violation of human rights, prima facie, and, therefore, provisional cognisance has been taken in the matter and the Commission is satisfied to direct the DGP, Tripura to inquire into the matter immediately and to submit an interim inquiry report within 15 days pending detailed inquiry and detailed report.”

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has since ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Expressing his sorrow, Saha posted on X saying “Saddened by the death of Badal Tripura (33) from Kaladepa under Manubazar PS. Following a complaint of wrongdoing by certain officials, the concerned Sub-Inspector and the Constable of Manubazar PS have been suspended. Further, instructions have been given for the magisterial enquiry. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.”

Opposition leader Jitendra Chaudhary criticized the incident as a failure of the government to ensure accountability within the police force, calling for strict action against those responsible.

It may be recalled here that Badal Tripura was taken into custody on October 13 by officers from the Manubazar police station, accused of stealing rubber sheets from a garden and was “brutally beaten” while in custody and released the next day in critical condition. Despite his deteriorating health, no advanced treatment was provided.

Official sources said that on charges of theft two tribal youths -- Badal Tripura (34) and Chiranjit Tripura (35) -- were arrested on October 13 and on the next day they were released on bail.

After release from police custody, severely injured Badal Tripura was taken to Manu Bazar rural hospital and from where he was referred to South Tripura district hospital, but surprisingly, the hospital authority released him without any treatment despite he had several deep wounds including swollen eyes, which reflected gross negligence by the hospital. Badal Tripura was referred to GB Hospital by South Tripura district hospital authority, but he was unable to come to GB Hospital in absence of an ambulance.

After days of struggling for his life at his house without any treatment, Badal died on October 17. When protests erupted in front of the police station demanding a fair investigation and strict punishment for the five policemen arrested in connection with the case, then police suspended and arrested all accused police personnel including a Sub-Inspector (SI)  Pranjit Roy,  constable Ranjit Kumar Tripura, three SPO jawans Rengu Mog, Mailasa Mog and Shyamal Das, posted at Manubazar police station under South Tripura district after a complaint of torture by the victim’s family.

Soon after the death of Badal Tripura on Thursday (October 17), irate locals, including women, staged demonstration in front of the Manubazar police station demanding severe punishment of the police personnel responsible for the “torture” leading to his death.

Hundreds of men and women also put up a road blockade on the Agartala-Sabroom national highway at Manubzar, 130 km from Agartala.