Election Violence Erupts in Tripura as Candidate Wounded by Gunfire

Khachindra Reang, a candidate for the Tipra Motha Party, suffered a gunshot wound Monday as violence disrupted voting in Gomati district. The attack occurred near the Warengbari polling station during the first village committee elections held in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council in over a decade.

Editorial·September 29, 2026·reads: 941

Election Violence Erupts in Tripura as Candidate Wounded by Gunfire

Reang was exiting his vehicle in the Maharani-Gamaria area when unidentified assailants opened fire, injuring him and two others, Chitrajoy Reang and Uday Ram Reang. Following emergency care at a local facility, the candidate was transferred to GBP Hospital in Agartala for further treatment. The incident sparked immediate unrest, with local residents blocking roads to demand accountability for the assault.

Tipra Motha leadership has publicly accused supporters of the ruling BJP of orchestrating the attack, though law enforcement officials have yet to confirm the identities of the perpetrators. Takarjala MLA Bishwajit Kalai condemned the use of firearms in political contests, warning that such aggression threatens the stability of the region. Meanwhile, Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma noted a separate instance of violence involving an injured BJP worker, highlighting the volatility surrounding the ballot-paper polls. Despite these isolated clashes, the State Election Commission reported a 79 percent turnout across 587 village committees, with counting for the historic election set to begin October 5.