Probe initiated against W Tripura DM, demand for judicial inquiry raised

AGARTALA: Although from various sources we have come to know that the West Tripura district magistrate (DM) Shailesh Kumar Yadav has reportedly been suspended for allegedly misbehaving with people, including a groom, at a wedding ceremony in Agartala on April 24, however, no officials have confirmed it yet.

Manoj Kumar, Tripura's chief secretary, is said to have launched an investigation, constituting a panel of two IAS officers to investigate and submit a comprehensive report on the West Tripura DM's late-night raid on two marriage halls.

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The incident, which drew widespread criticism and scathing remarks from around the country for the DM's "shameful" behavior with elderly people, the bride and groom, and the police, had also caused serious embarrassment for the state government.

"A two-member committee has been formed to investigate the whole incident." Senior IAS officers Kiran Gitte and Tanuhsree Debbarma have been tasked with investigating the matter and place a detailed report before the Chief Secretary. The committee was formed shortly after Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb requested a report on the matter from the Chief Secretary," a high-ranking source familiar with the development said on condition of anonymity.

This has come after a video of a wedding raid, conducted by DM Yadav, went viral on social media, where he can be seen behaving unruly, as he was pushing out the bridegroom, arresting everyone present, including the bride and groom’s relatives, and tore up a written permission for the wedding signed by himself.

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In the video, Yadav can be heard as saying that anyone who assembled at the site was breaking prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC  and will be prosecuted.

As many as 30 people were detained and later released.

Since the video went viral on social media, Yadav has received harsh criticism for his rowdy behaviour at a wedding reception.

Former chief minister Manik Sarkar and the CPIM described the incident as “undesired” and “unfit” for a district magistrate, and sought proper action against the DM for his behaviour.

Congress leader from Assam Gaurav Gogoi said the behaviour of the DM was despicable. He stated that the family indeed broke the rules, but the law should be enforced by government officials in an appreciable manner.

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Later on, Yadav had apologised for disrupting the wedding at Manikya Court, saying he didn’t mean to “hurt anyone’s feelings".

Notably, as many as five Tripura MLAs had written to the state chief secretary, requesting that the Tripura DM be prosecuted for his "boorish misbehaviour".

Meanwhile, public figures such as Sonu Nigam, heads of the Pandit Samaj in Rajasthan, and prominent people from various walks of life have been found demanding immediate action against him. Asish Das, a BJP MLA who is demanding immediate suspension, has also begun a sit-in protest.

What is the story? 

With a surge in COVID-19 cases, Tripura has imposed a night curfew in Agartala municipal areas since April 22.

Despite the COVID situation in the Northeast deteriorating, the Tripura family had to pay a price for celebrating a wedding on April 24 during the night curfew.

Following this DM Yadav had conducted a raid at the wedding venue and shoved the groom out of the hall and disrupted the wedding ceremony for COVID norms violation.