Six Tripura power department workers assaulted, seven booked

With Tripura on alert for seasonal nor’westers, those keeping the lights on—literally—are now fearing for their own safety. 

In a disturbing development, six employees of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) were seriously injured in two separate mob attacks in Dhalai District on Tuesday, prompting the corporation to demand immediate protection for its field staff.

What began as routine duties—consumer verification, load checking, and anti-power theft drives—turned into a nightmare for TSECL workers when two violent incidents left not only personnel injured, but vital infrastructure and official vehicles damaged. Seven individuals have been booked in connection with the attacks.

“These are the very people working tirelessly to ensure uninterrupted power during one of the most challenging weather seasons. Instead, they are being met with violence. It’s demoralizing and dangerous,” a TSECL official stated.

The first attack took place in Ghainama Chakma Para under Chailengta Police Station, where a team from Manu Sub-Division was reportedly ambushed by three individuals. Four staffers—Sanjay Debbarma, Daha Ranjan Tripura, Krishnadhan Debnath, and Bijoy Singh Chakma—sustained injuries, and the team’s vehicle was vandalized.

In a separate incident on the same day, a group led by one Kamal Sinha barged into the 33/11 KV sub-station control room in Kamalpur and allegedly assaulted two on-duty employees—Amar Malakar and Amit Das—causing injuries and damaging control room equipment. The motive remains unclear.

With FIRs lodged at both Chailengta and Kamalpur police stations, the identities of the alleged attackers have been shared with authorities. However, no arrests had been made as of late Tuesday night.

The attacks have sparked concern across the TSECL workforce, many of whom are now reluctant to visit remote and high-risk zones without police escort. “Power workers are not just technicians—they’re first responders during natural disasters. If they feel unsafe, the whole system is at risk,” said a senior TSECL official.

TSECL has condemned the violence and urged the state government to prioritize the security of its staff, particularly during emergency preparedness periods. The corporation has also called for swift legal proceedings to bring the accused to justice and set a precedent that frontline service workers are not fair game for public outrage or misdirected anger.