On Sunday, October 20, Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma formally addressed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tripura Director General of Police (DGP), and the Tripura State Human Rights Commission regarding the recent custodial death of a young man, Badal Tripura, and widespread reports of police misconduct. Debbarma has demanded the arrest of the Officer-in-Charge of the Manubazar Police Station, whom he accuses of being complicit in the incident.
Badal Tripura was arrested on October 13 in connection with a theft case. He died at home on October 16, allegedly following severe torture while in police custody. This incident has sparked outrage, and Debbarma’s letter highlights concerns about police brutality and negligence, claiming that such incidents are recurring within the state’s police stations.
In his letter, Debbarma emphasized that there are “many instances of police harassment, torture, and assault” occurring in Tripura’s police stations, often without adequate medical care being provided to those in custody. He expressed alarm at the disregard for Supreme Court guidelines on providing necessary medical attention to detainees, warning that the failure to do so results in long-term physical harm or permanent deformity.
He further accused the police hierarchy of shielding Officer-in-Charge personnel from legal accountability, despite their involvement or oversight in these incidents. “In almost all the cases, the Officer-in-Charge escapes punishment under the law,” Debbarma wrote, adding that this lack of accountability is breeding discontent among non-gazetted police officers and staff who feel that higher-ranking officers are not being held accountable.
Debbarma described the custodial death of Badal Tripura as particularly disturbing, asserting that it is “quite absurd” to believe such an event occurred without the knowledge or consent of the Officer-in-Charge at Manubazar Police Station. He called for immediate police action, including the arrest of the responsible officers, and demanded a thorough investigation into all cases of detainees being denied proper medical treatment over the past two months.
The MLA’s letter reflects growing concerns about the conduct of Tripura’s police force, urging the authorities to restore public confidence by holding those responsible accountable. Debbarma stressed that addressing these issues is critical to “eradicating the panic of the people in this state of Tripura.”