Tripura: Unidentified Miscreants Deface Idol of Lord Shani in Sonamura, Sparking Tensions on New Year’s Eve

Police have launched an investigation, and urged local residents to remain calm.

In a disturbing repeat of past incidents, unidentified miscreants defaced an idol of Lord Shani in Sonamura, Tripura, on New Year’s Eve, raising fresh concerns of an attempt to incite communal tensions.

The incident, which occurred in the Tamsabari area in Ward No. 12 of Sonamura Nagar Panchayat under Sonamura Police Station late Tuesday night is being seen as a deliberate attempt to disrupt peace in the mixed-population border town, echoing a similar act of idol desecration in Ranirbazar just a few months ago that had triggered widespread communal violence.

As per inputs, locals discovered the vandalism around 10 PM and immediately alerted police and municipal authorities.

Acting swiftly, Sepahijala district’s Superintendent of Police (SP), Bogaty J Reddy, deployed additional security forces to the scene, particularly in the bordering areas that house a mixed population.

Reddy also personally visited the site, accompanied by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and other senior officials, including the Vice Chairman of the Nagar Panchayat, Shahajan Mia, who is also the Ward No. 12 Commissioner.

Police have launched an investigation, and urged local residents to remain calm.

SP Reddy also inspected the site and interacted with locals. He assured strict action against the culprits and stated that Hindus and Muslims in Sonamura have historically coexisted peacefully.

Speaking to the media, SP Bogaty J Reddy said, “We have launched a thorough investigation into the incident. CCTV footage from the area near the temple has been collected, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the miscreants responsible.”

The vandalism has sparked widespread concern among locals, who believe it to be a calculated move to incite communal unrest.

In a region that has a history of clashes between religious groups and tribal versus non-tribal communities, the act has raised fears of potential escalation.

Notably, this is the second such incident that has been reported in a span of 5 months.

Earlier, in August, miscreants defaced an idol of Goddess Kali in West Tripura which led to violent clashes, including the torching of houses and vehicles, and left several police officers injured.

Tripura witnessed at least 3 communal clashes last year involving different religious groups and tribal versus non-tribal tensions in Dhalai, North Tripura, and West Tripura districts.

Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation and restoration of the damaged temple while emphasizing efforts to preserve peace and communal harmony in the region.

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