Mob Vandalizes Vehicles After Assault on Tribal Woman in Tripura

• A mob vandalized multiple vehicles in Bishramganj, Tripura, after a tribal woman was allegedly sexually assaulted on a government bus.
• The violence resulted in injuries to several passengers from broken glass.
• Police and paramilitary forces were deployed, and the situation was brought under control after several hours.

GG News Bureau
Bishramganj, 6th Aug: A situation of high tension and violence erupted in Bishramganj, Sepahijala district, on Tuesday, following the alleged sexual assault of a tribal woman on a government bus. A large mob, armed with sticks and rods, gathered and vandalized multiple vehicles, including the bus in question, resulting in injuries to several people from shattered glass.

Police sources said the woman was traveling from Agartala to Sonamura when she was allegedly assaulted by an unidentified passenger. The suspect had reportedly disembarked before the bus reached Bishramganj. As news of the incident spread, a crowd gathered, turning violent and smashing windshields.

The Sepahijala Superintendent of Police, Bijoy Debbarma, and local forces initially struggled to contain the situation. Additional forces, led by IG (Law and Order) Ipper Monchak Dnyanoba, were deployed, and the situation was brought under control after several hours. However, tensions remained high, leading the district administration to invoke Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which empowers Executive Magistrates to issue preventive orders to avert threats to public safety.

Police said an investigation is underway, but they suspect that rumors on social media may have contributed to inflaming the situation. While some bus passengers denied witnessing any harassment, authorities have urged the public not to spread unverified information or engage in violence. The victim is currently hospitalized and receiving treatment.

The victim’s brother stated that his sister was a student of air hostess training in Guwahati who had just flown into Agartala before boarding the bus home.