Agartala, 26 May 2025:
Gomati district in Tripura has become the epicentre of political unrest following a controversy involving District Magistrate Tarit Kanti Chakma and Tipra Motha supremo, His Excellency and His Graced Highness, Pradyot Kishore Debbarma. The situation intensified after the youth wing of the Tipra Motha party demanded the immediate removal or transfer of the DM, alleging disrespectful and inappropriate conduct towards their leader.
According to Tipra Motha leaders, Debbarma and the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) had visited the DM’s official residence on Sunday night to discuss critical development issues, particularly regarding the Ampi region. However, they were allegedly denied an audience by DM Chakma, an incident which they described as an insult and deliberate avoidance.
The matter quickly escalated, with Tipra Motha's youth wing holding a press conference attended by Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha. During the conference, the youth leaders voiced strong criticism, demanding that the DM issue a formal apology within four days, failing which they threatened to lock down all government offices in Gomati district and intensify their protests.
Opposition parties have also reacted sharply to the developments. Leaders from across the political spectrum questioned the DM’s conduct and urged the administration to ensure accountability, warning that such actions undermine democratic discourse and ethnic harmony in the state.
Adding to the controversy, a serious altercation took place during a press conference at the Gomati District Press Club. Tipra Motha supporters allegedly used abusive language and referred to journalists as “Bangladeshis” when a question was raised without addressing Debbarma as “Maharaja”. This act has infuriated the journalist community, with media personnel from Gomati and South Tripura districts initiating protests and demanding an official apology and action against those involved.
Journalist bodies across the state condemned the derogatory remarks, stating that such behaviour is not only disrespectful but also attempts to intimidate and divide media professionals along ethnic lines. They further demanded that all political parties maintain decorum and respect freedom of the press.
Meanwhile, Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma attempted to ease communal tensions that flared in the aftermath of the incident. In a public statement, he clarified that the dispute with the DM should not be viewed through a communal lens. “This is not about the Chakma community. I have always stood with the Chakmas, including when they were persecuted in Bangladesh. This is the action of one officer, not an entire community,” he said, appealing to his supporters to maintain communal harmony.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who returned to Agartala from Delhi amidst the rising tension, has reportedly taken the matter seriously. Sources within the state secretariat confirmed that the Chief Minister has directed the Chief Secretary to initiate a departmental inquiry into the incident. The inquiry will examine both the DM’s conduct and the misbehaviour by Tipra Motha supporters towards journalists.
The state government is expected to review the inquiry findings before taking disciplinary action, if required. Political observers believe the outcome will have far-reaching implications, not only for the administrative functioning in Gomati but also for the upcoming political alignments within Tripura.
As the four-day deadline set by the Tipra Motha youth wing nears, the people of Gomati—and indeed the entire state—watch with bated breath. The controversy has become a test case for the government’s ability to balance administrative propriety, political sensitivity, and communal harmony.
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