AGARTALA: Five persons suffered minor injuries and at least four shops were set ablaze after an unruly mob turned violent in the Shimultala area of Fatikroy in Tripura’s Unakoti district on Saturday, following an alleged attempt to extort money from a truck driver carrying timber.A large contingent of police, TSR, Assam Rifles and CRPF personnel was deployed in the area. Unakoti DM Tamal Mujumdar and SP Abinash Rai reached the spot as the district administration ordered suspension of internet services for two days to prevent further escalation.According to reports, a truck transporting smuggled timber was stopped around 10am by members of a local club who allegedly sought money from the ‘Momin’ driver in the name of a festival. The driver refused, triggering an argument.The driver then informed his employer, who allegedly sent a group to the spot to force the release of the truck, leading to clashes and injuries on both sides. Residents in Shimultala later set several houses on fire, officials said.Additional forces were rushed in and security was intensified across Fatikroy, Kumarghat and the corridor linking Agartala with northern Tripura. The situation remained tense but under control, with several arrests made.Fisheries and animal resources development minister Sudhangshu Das, the MLA from Fatikroy, reached the area from Agartala after the incident. Das said, “A vested interest group is trying to add a communal colour, though it was purely a criminal incident. However, we have alerted the citizens of both communities to be vigilant and not to fall prey to the evil design.”
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