Agartala: Nov 20. A joint anti-cannabis operation in Melkabari ADC Village turned violent on Thursday when a mob of around 60–70 villagers attacked officials, injuring a BSF jawan, two police personnel, and a forest worker. The team, comprising Forest Department staff, Baijalbari Police, BSF, and additional security forces, had destroyed nearly 8,000 cannabis plants before the assault broke out.
According to police, the operation was launched following a tip-off. As officials were cutting and burning the fully grown cannabis plantation, an agitated group of villagers began pelting stones and bricks at the team. Two police vehicles were also vandalised during the attack.
With the situation spiralling out of control, police fired tear-gas shells to disperse the mob and withdraw safely from the spot.
Later, the Forest Department filed a case at Baijalbari Police Station. The police registered it as a suo motu case, confirmed Baijalbari OC Jugal Tripura.
