Around 300 people of 61 families have fled and at least one house was torched in a clash between two communities in West Tripura district over alleged molestation of a tribal girl, police said Friday.
The four alleged molesters were arrested, they said.
According to the police, the girl, along with her boyfriend, had come to West Tripura's Ranirbazar area Thursday from a nearby locality to see Durga idols there and four men allegedly molested her and snatched her mobile phone.
"The two (girl, boy) went back to their locality and then returned with a large group of people who tried to attack the houses of those who reportedly molested the girl," Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) BB Das said.
After the incident, panic gripped Ranirbazar, which is around 15 km from Agartala, the SDPO said.
The clash continued on Friday and, on receipt of the information, state minister and Indigenous People's Front Tripura (IPFT) leader NC Debbarma rushed to the spot to pacify the situation.
"The situation, however, could not be controlled immediately. The raiders attempted to burn houses and succeed to torch one house today. Following this, around 300 members of 61 families fled. About 100 of them are now camping near Ranirbazar police station," the SDPO said.
The district administration provided them food.
Mr Das said a large contingent of police led by district Superintendent of Police Ajit Pratap Singh is camping in the area and the situation is now under control.
Leader of the opposition Manik Sarkar spoke to Chief Secretary LK Gupta and urged him to tighten the security of the panic stricken people, besides providing them food and shelter, Opposition CPI(M) spokesman Pabitra Kar said.
Tripura NEET UG 2024 Counselling Registration To Begin On August 19 BJP Sweeps Panchayat Elections In Tripura 4 Bangladeshis Arrested For Illegally Crossing Into Tripura, Say Cops Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Villagers Try To Drive Away Elephant With Spiked Rods, Fireballs. It Dies For Debate Against Kamala Harris, Donald Trump Picks This Hindu American 2 Killed In West Bank Strike, Israel Says It Targeted "Terrorist Cell'' 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Russia, Several Aftershocks Recorded Prohibitory Orders In Kolkata Amid Protests Over Doctor's Rape-Murder Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.