Agartala, 3rd November 2026 : Eight persons have been arrested and a case registered against 19 people following an attack on Border Security Force (BSF) personnel during a clash with local residents at Ashabari in Boxanagar, Sepahijala district, Tripura, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said on Tuesday.
In a Facebook post, the Chief Minister confirmed the arrests and asserted that everyone involved in the attack would face legal consequences.”In connection with the assault on BSF personnel at Ashabari, Boxanagar, eight accused persons have been arrested. All those involved will be brought to justice, and strict legal action will be taken against them in accordance with the law. Violence against our security personnel will not be tolerated,” he wrote.
Police sources said a case had been registered against 19 persons in connection with Monday’s incident, while the investigation into the matter is underway.
The incident occurred near Ashabari Gram Panchayat on Monday morning when a verbal altercation reportedly broke out between local residents and BSF personnel deployed at Ashabari Border Outpost (BOP) under the 49 Battalion. The dispute allegedly stemmed from a smuggling-related issue.
According to preliminary reports, a BSF jawan allegedly assaulted a local resident, identified as Hefzur Rahman, with a lathi during the altercation. The incident reportedly triggered anger among villagers, who subsequently blocked the Boxanagar–Rahimpur road, disrupting traffic movement.
As tensions escalated, Assistant Commandant Rohit Kumar of Rahimpur BOP and other BSF personnel allegedly came under attack from the agitated crowd. Their vehicle was also vandalised.
The situation deteriorated further after additional BSF personnel arrived at the spot, leading to a clash between security forces and local residents.
Assistant Commandant Rohit Kumar and three others sustained injuries in the incident. They were initially taken to Boxanagar Primary Health Centre (PHC) for preliminary treatment.
Police sources said the situation in the area has since returned to normal, while further legal action is expected as the investigation progresses.