An uneasy calm prevailed in Tripura’s Fatikroy on Saturday morning, as residents of the Saidarpara–Shimultala and Kumarghat areas alleged that Muslim-owned homes, shops, and a mosque were set on fire after Hindutva groups allegedly harassed members of the Muslim community while collecting funds for an upcoming Hindu religious gathering.
According to residents, the incidents were carried out by a group of Hindutva activists amid heightened communal tension in the area. Locals further alleged that police personnel were present at the scene but failed to effectively control the situation, leading to widespread fear, anger, and a sense of abandonment among residents.
Families affected by the alleged arson said they have been left devastated and displaced, with many losing both their homes and livelihoods.
“People have lost everything and are struggling to cope,” residents said.
The incident has raised serious questions about the functioning of Tripura’s administration, particularly as the violence occurred in the constituency represented by state minister and local MLA Sudhanshu Das. Concerned citizens described the episode as a clear indication of administrative failure and demanded accountability from the authorities.
As of now, there has been no official statement from the district administration or the police addressing the allegations.
“They attacked our area and set fire to a mosque, along with our homes and shops. The police were present, but they did nothing to stop it,” an eyewitness from the Saidarpara–Shimultala area told Maktoob.
“We kept asking, are we being punished because we are Muslims? Does being a minority mean we are not entitled to protection or justice in this country? This keeps happening to us again and again,” the eyewitness added.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.