By Agartala Correspondent | Tripura 24.in
AGARTALA | May 15, 2026
AGARTALA: In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage across Tripura’s media fraternity, senior photojournalist Bijay Debnath was brutally assaulted at a petrol pump in the Radhanagar area today. The veteran journalist, known for his calm demeanor, was left bleeding after being attacked by an auto-rickshaw driver following a dispute over refueling.
The incident occurred during the morning hours, as long queues continued to plague the city’s fuel stations following the recent price hike and supply concerns.
The Incident: Professional Duty Met with Violence
According to eyewitnesses at the Radhanagar petrol pump, an auto-rickshaw driver attempted to bypass the serpentine queue to get fuel out of turn. This led to a heated verbal exchange between the driver and other commuters who had been waiting for hours.
Bijay Debnath, who was present at the scene, began capturing the chaos on his camera as part of his professional responsibility to document the ongoing fuel crisis. Angered by the photojournalist’s presence, the auto driver reportedly turned his aggression toward Debnath, striking him repeatedly.
Injury Details:
- Severe Assault: The journalist sustained blunt force trauma to his face.
- Medical Status: Debnath was found bleeding from the mouth and nose. He was immediately rushed to the Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital by fellow journalists and police personnel for emergency treatment.
Police Action & Fugitive Accused
Personnel from the East Agartala Police Station arrived at the scene shortly after the attack. While the accused auto-rickshaw driver managed to flee the spot on foot, the police have seized the auto-rickshaw involved in the incident.
”We have identified the vehicle and are conducting raids to apprehend the driver. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS for assault and obstructing a journalist from performing his duty. Violence of this nature will not be tolerated,” a senior police official stated.
Media Fraternity Demands Immediate Arrest
The attack has triggered widespread condemnation from major media bodies, including the Agartala Press Club, Tripura Journalists Union (TJU), and Tripura Working Journalists Association (TWJA).
- Growing Insecurity: Leaders of these organizations pointed out that this is the second major attack on a journalist in Tripura this week, following the assault on Nivedita Chakraborty on May 9.
- Call for Protection: Journalists gathered in large numbers at the hospital and later at the police station, demanding “exemplary punishment” for the accused and a permanent security mechanism for on-field reporters.
Context: The “Fuel Fever” in Agartala
The assault is seen as a byproduct of the extreme tension currently gripping the state’s fuel stations. With petrol crossing the ₹100 mark today and rumors of shortages persisting despite government assurances, tempers are running high at pumps across the capital. This environment has increasingly placed media persons—who are covering the crisis—at risk of becoming targets of public frustration.
