Youth dies due to ‘police torture’ in South Tripura, five cops arrested

A 34-year-old youth, who was arrested on the charge of theft at Sabroom in South Tripura district on October 13, died at his residence on Thursday allegedly due to “police torture” during police custody.

A police official said that five police personnel, including a Sub-Inspector, posted at Manubazar police station under South Tripura district have been arrested after a complaint of torture by the victim’s family.

The official 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. 

The family members of Badal Tripura, resident of Kaladepa tribal village, on October 14 lodged a complaint with the police that he was severely tortured during custody at the Manubazar police station on October 13 and next day he was released on bail without any medical treatment to his serious injuries. 

Soon after the death of Badal Tripura on Thursday, 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.

Police said that Badal Tripura and Chiranjit Tripura were arrested by the police on October13 allegedly for stealing rubber sheets from a local godown.

Following the complaint of the victim’s family a case was registered against the five police personnel including a Sub-Inspector and they were subsequently arrested.

Post-mortem examination of the youth was also conducted by the doctors in presence of an executive magistrate.

Additional security forces have been deployed in the Manubazar areas after the resentment of the people over the death. Senior police officials have visited the tension ridden areas.

Leader of Opposition and CPI(M) Tripura state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury in a letter to Director General of Police (intelligence) Anurag on October 14 demanded action against the erring police personnel for the “custodial torture”.

Talking to the media on Thursday, the Left leader said that during the past few months many innocent people were lynched by the “goons” of the ruling BJP while more than three people were died due to police “torture”. 

Chaudhury, also a former minister, said in a post on his X handle: “Yet another custodial death in Tripura. Badal Tripura succumbed to the inhumane torture at Manu (Sabroom) PS. This is the 3rd in a row, R.K.Pur, Nutan Bazar and Manu, within the last two and half months. Would Sushason (good governance) be awakened?”