Photo Courtesy: tripuratimes
Agartala: The Tripura Human Rights Commission is demanding answers regarding the status of a land allotment promised to the widow of an extremism victim. Justice Arindam Lodh, head of the Commission, launched a probe following a newspaper report published on August 20, 2026. This report highlighted the struggles of Shipra Debnath. Her husband, Litan Debnath, was kidnapped by NLFT militants at gunpoint on November 26, 2020. Police found his body 49 days later.
Litan was the family's sole breadwinner, leaving behind a wife and four daughters. The commission registered Complaint No. 22 of 2026 after reports suggested Shipra Debnath lost access to land meant for her rehabilitation. Officials now face a reckoning. The Commission requested updates from the North Tripura District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police.
While the District Magistrate provided documents on August 21, the Superintendent of Police remains silent. The Magistrate's report claims records show no official handover of the 0.06-acre Plot No. 282 ever occurred. The Block Development Officer in Damcherra initially pushed for that specific plot in May 2021. However, the Sub-Divisional Level Land Allotment Committee rejected the request because the land sat too close to a village road.
Official reports state Debnath currently rents space in Damcherra Market with her children. The government claims a new, suitable plot is under review for a September 2026 committee meeting. Still, the Commission finds these explanations lacking. It noted, "The report did not clarify whether Debnath and her children had been dispossessed from Plot No. 282 measuring 0.06 acres." Officials must provide further evidence before the next hearing on September 10, 2026. The Commission will also interview Debnath directly to hear her side of the story.
Comments