Villagers of Teliamura Sub-division in Khowai District, Tripura, staged a protest on Friday by blocking the Assam-Agartala National Highway, seeking protection from recurring wild elephant attacks. The demonstrators, speaking to the media, claimed that their area has been grappling with the menace for a decade, with elephants frequently invading their homes and villages, causing extensive damage to property, crops, and food supplies.
Expressing their distress, a protester stated, "We are unable to sleep properly at night. We live in fear as wild elephants launch attacks on our village almost every night. They destroy our homes and take away food and everything." Despite raising the issue with local authorities multiple times, the residents asserted that no decisive action had been taken, prompting them to resort to road blockade as a form of protest.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, another protester recounted an incident where a child was almost killed as a herd of wild elephants entered the village and wreaked havoc. The residents lamented the lack of support from their local MLA and Minister Bikas Debbarma, emphasizing the loss of lives and displacement caused by these elephant attacks. Fruit orchards, including bananas, mangoes, coconuts, and betel nut trees, have been particularly affected.
For over a decade, the people of Teliamura sub-division have lived in constant fear due to wild elephant rampages, leading some to abandon their homes and relocate. Despite efforts, both scientific and otherwise, to protect the areas from elephant intrusions, affected families alleged a lack of assistance from the village panchayat and the forest department.
Upon receiving information about the protest, Tripura Police and Teliamura Sub-Divisional Magistrate Abhijit Chakraborty rushed to the scene. The road blockade persisted for approximately an hour and a half, during which Minister of Tribal Welfare Department and MLA Bikas Debbarma found himself caught in the blockade. The demonstration concluded after assurances were given by the minister and officials to take necessary steps to address the issue.
Bhavan’s Little Learners celebrate annual programme
The Bhavan’s Little Learners, Bordowali celebrated annual programme and organised prize distribution ceremony here at Agartala Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan on Wednesday.
Govt working to boost agricultural production to make Tripura self-reliant: Minister Ratan Lal Nath
The Tripura government is contemplating to make Tripura self-reliant in agricultural production, said agriculture minister Ratan Lal Nath on Wednesday.
Scholarship Fraud: Tribal Welfare Dept issues show cause to 34 students
In a major crackdown on scholarship fraud, the Tripura Tribal Welfare Department has issued show cause notices to 34 students for allegedly submitting fake income certificates to avail the Scheduled Tribe (ST) Post-Matric Scholarship for the academic year 2023-24.
Fall of Congress in Gujarat: Three decades of decline and struggle for relevance
The Congress party was once the dominant political force in Gujarat, shaping the state’s governance since independence. However, over the past 30 years, the party has witnessed a dramatic downfall, losing ground to the BJP’s aggressive electoral strategies, organisational strength, and ideological appeal.
‘Disempowering Muslims’: J&K political parties oppose Waqf (Amendment) Bill
All political parties of J&K, except the BJP, opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying that the Bill is intended to disempower Muslims and only target one religion.
Radical group founder wanted in Jaipur serial blast plot apprehended in Ratlam
The Madhya Pradesh Police in Ratlam achieved a significant breakthrough in apprehending Firoz, also known as Sabji, a fugitive implicated in a conspiracy to execute serial blasts aimed at creating panic and terrorising the Rajasthan capital city of Jaipur.
Amit Shah & Akhilesh Yadav’s lighter exchange in LS over party president
Amid the uproar and heated debate between the ruling party and the Opposition over the Waqf Amendment Bill on Wednesday, the Lok Sabha witnessed some lighter moments between Home Minister Amit Shah and SP President Akhilesh Yadav.
Waqf Bill weakens Constitution, defames minorities, divides society: Gaurav Gogoi
As Parliament debated the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, on Wednesday, deputy leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi came down heavily on the government.