Tipra Motha legislator Ranjit Debbarma has raised objections to the appointment of a Manipuri woman under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) quota in the Tripura Police. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, the MLA alleged irregularities in the recruitment process and demanded a probe into the matter.
According to Ranjit Debbarma, appointments for constables in the state police were finalized earlier this year. In the official merit list, at serial number 124, the name of Anamika Debbarma was mentioned as a beneficiary under the ST quota. However, Ranjit pointed out that Anamika’s father, Kajal Sinha, belongs to the Manipuri community, which is not recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in Tripura.
The MLA argued that Anamika, who is married to a tribal man, does not qualify for ST status as per existing rules. He maintained that marriage into a tribal community does not automatically entitle an individual to tribal identity or reservation benefits.
Disputed ST Certificate Issuance
Ranjit Debbarma further alleged that Anamika obtained her Scheduled Tribe certificate from the Kailasahar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office through irregular means. Describing the issuance process as “illegal,” he demanded an investigation to verify the authenticity of the certificate.
“This case clearly violates the rules governing ST reservation. Benefits meant for genuine tribal candidates cannot be extended to those who are not tribals by birth. The matter must be investigated, and necessary action should be taken,” the MLA stated in his letter.
Demand for Dismissal from Service
Along with his demand for a probe, the Tipra Motha MLA called for the cancellation of Anamika Debbarma (Sinha)’s appointment and her immediate dismissal from the police service if the allegations are found true.
Ranjit emphasized that allowing such cases to go unchecked would deprive genuine tribal candidates of their rightful opportunities in government jobs, particularly in a sensitive recruitment process like the police force.
Awaiting Chief Minister’s Response
As of now, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has not issued any response to the concerns raised by Ranjit Debbarma. The issue is expected to spark further political debate, as it directly concerns tribal identity, reservation benefits, and recruitment fairness in Tripura.
Observers believe that this controversy may intensify the ongoing discussions around reservation policies and tribal rights in the state, especially given Tipra Motha’s strong political stance on protecting the rights and identity of the indigenous tribal population.