A serious security breach occurred on Saturday afternoon near Udaipur in Tripura’s Gomati district, as a vehicle from the convoy of Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Dr. L. Murugan, was hijacked. The incident has raised concerns about the state’s law and order situation and the safety of official convoys.
According to police sources, the convoy was returning from an official function at the College of Fisheries in Lembucherra when one of the vehicles — a white Mahindra Scorpio with registration number TR01AY3670 — got separated from the main convoy. The separation went unnoticed as the police escort moved ahead, assuming all vehicles were following.
The vehicle was intercepted by unidentified assailants near Chottakhola, and the driver, identified as Mohammad Toiyab, was forcefully abducted. The miscreants reportedly stole over ₹46,000 in cash, the driver’s mobile phone, and an official identity card. The abandoned vehicle was later discovered near the Assam border, but the driver remained missing at that point.
Hours later, Toiyab was found near a tea estate in Habiganj, Bangladesh, from where he contacted the authorities. He had reportedly been subjected to threats and physical intimidation during his captivity. Preliminary investigations suggest that the hijackers used a fake escort vehicle to intercept the convoy car and later crossed over towards the Indo-Bangla border.
Tripura police have since detained a suspect, identified as Satyajit Kumar Saha, who is currently under interrogation. An intensive investigation is underway to track down the remaining culprits involved in the hijacking and abduction.
The incident has sparked criticism over the security protocol for visiting dignitaries and has put pressure on state and central agencies to review convoy safety measures. While no official comment has yet been issued by the Union Minister’s office, state authorities have confirmed that security has been tightened across border areas.
