Based on the directives of the Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha,  Tripura police on Monday arrested six accused persons police in connection with last Tuesday night’s attack and vandalism on a passenger bus in Bishramganj market under Sepahijala district and now, a  total of seven accused persons were arrested in connection of vandalism.

On Monday afternoon, under tight security, six accused were taken from Bishramganj police station and were produced before the Bishalgarh sub-divisional court.

The accused were identified as Monikumar Debbarma, Rudra Debbarma, Raju Debbarma, Bimal Debbarma, Amit Debbarma, and Bidyasagar Debbarma. These six arrested individuals attacked innocent passengers of the bus and vandalised the vehicle.

The arrests come in the wake of a disturbing incident that gripped the Bishramganj motor stand area with tension on August 5th evening. Earlier, Bishramganj police station had also arrested another accused, who got bail from a local court.

Issuing alleged molestation to a girl in a running passenger bus, the situation in Bishramganj town turned volatile after a section of people ransacked that passenger bus and tried to turn the situation into an ethnic issue.

Within minutes of the incident, a large number of police forces rushed to the spot and at a time, police had to resort to mild lath-charge to disperse the angry mob.

Sources said that when a girl arrived at Bishramganj bus stand, a large group attacked at a time targeting the bus and its other passengers and they ransacked the bus.

Later, some unruly youths, suspected to be political party supporters attacked some local people belonging to other community with an intention to create communal tensions. Amidst escalating tension, a large number of security forces including SP of Sepahijala district ,Bijoy Debbarma rushed to the spot and tried to defuse the tension.

Later, IG(law and Order) Manchak Ipper also rushed to the spot and reviewed the situation.

One Jacinta Debbarma (18) of Master Para area of Bishramganj on Tuesday (August 5) evening returned back to her home through a passenger bus from Agartala.  Jacinta , an internee student of air hostess training centre in Guwahati and on Tuesday afternoon arrived at Agartala airport for holidays and was returning to her home through that passenger bus.

Her relatives alleged that some other passengers boarded at that same bus had molested her and she was admitted to Bishramganj hospital.

Before her arrival at Bishramganj bus stand, a large number of tribal youths gathered and when the bus arrived at the stand, they indiscriminately started attacking the bus and other local people., which escalated communal tension in that area.

Jacinta Debbarma alleged that she had been touched inappropriately but could not identify the perpetrator.

Locals have voiced fears that the attack may have been a pre-planned attempt to incite unrest in the area. Police said that investigation is ongoing to determine the motive and identify any further conspirators.