Normal business and traffic was disrupted in Agartala on Friday due to protests over continuing scarcity of petrol and diesel.
Tension gripped the city since morning after commuters, mostly bikers, gathered in hundreds near petrol stations to resort to agitation. The protesters blocked roads at various junctions, burnt tyres and raised slogans demanding a solution to fuel crisis prevailing in the State for past two months.
Contingents of Tripura State Rifles (TSR) were deployed in view of the tension, but they refrained from using force.
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In a hastily-convened press conference at the Civic Secretariat in the afternoon, Food and Civil Supply Minister Bhanu Lal Saha warned of action. “The competent authority has been asked to identify the culprits and prevent disruption of normal traffic,” he said.
PWD Minister Badal Choudhury and Transport Minister Manik Dey were also present at the press conference held after the Trinamool Congress workers staged protests outside the secretariat.
The State government also ordered an enquiry into the security breach by political activists in the high-security zone.
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Mr Choudhury blamed the Centre and Assam government for not taking urgent steps to repair the damaged portion of the highway. His office distributed copies of correspondences between him and the Central Ministers, Tripura Chief Secretary and central government secretaries over the issue.
Unprecedented fuel shortage in the State is due to damaged stretch on the Assam-Agartala National Highway. Entry of heavy vehicles came down significantly due to rough road condition mainly in Lower Powa on the Assam side.
The State government first introduced rationing and then odd-even formula to regulate fuel distribution at petrol stations. The exercise proved ineffective to meet the demand and non-arrival of oil tankers on Thursday dried up petrol stations. Normal business activities and vehicular movement were disturbed due to daylong protests. Even school buses had to take different routes to drop students.