The Tripura police launched a probe after a mob attacked a bus in the Sepahijala district Tuesday evening after a passenger allegedly molested a woman co-passenger inside the bus. One special police officer (SPO) and three passengers were injured in the attack, and the police filed a case at the local police station.
The police said the mob attacked the passenger bus as soon as it reached a bus stand, and police personnel rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. All the injured were taken to a local hospital. “A case was registered late at night. The police have started an investigation into the matter”, said an on-duty police officer from the police headquarters.
Meanwhile, the government imposed a prohibitory order in the region under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) shortly after the attack.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Manik Saha said, “We are all part of society. There are the police, police stations and the legal system. Such incidents can happen at any time. What is required is to see if any action was taken after the incident. Many attempts are being made to give it a separate colour. I will tell them to refrain from doing so. The police have done their job. They reached the spot soon after the incident,” he said, adding that the alleged molestation and the mob attack were both wrong.
“I appeal for peace, and let me say one thing: violence never solves problems, it only divides people,” he added.
Meanwhile, ruling alliance partner TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said he got in touch with the woman and her mother and assured them all support. He also said he had instructed the director general of police (DGP) to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
SPOs are people appointed on an honorarium basis to assist regular police forces. SPOs were initially inducted to assist the police force in combating insurgency. Currently, they are deployed to maintain law and order.