In a significant development affecting cross-border trade in the Northeast, a trade body based in Tripura has expressed its support for the Centre’s decision to impose port restrictions on certain imports from Bangladesh. The Tripura Chamber of Trade and Business (TCTB), representing local traders and businessmen, has praised the move, emphasizing the importance of national interests.

Announced on May 18 by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the new restrictions limit the import of specific Bangladeshi goods—such as readymade garments and processed food—through designated ports. However, the DGFT has clarified that these restrictions will not impact Bangladeshi products that are in transit through India to landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan.

TCTB General Secretary Rajat Paul remarked to local media that Bangladeshi exporters, who have historically supplied large quantities to the Indian market via land ports in Tripura and other northeastern states, will feel the most significant impact. “We commend the DGFT’s decision. The nation’s interests come first. Bangladeshi exporters, especially those using land ports, will bear the greatest losses,” he stated.

Paul also highlighted that the Comilla and Brahmanbaria districts in Bangladesh host about 28 cement manufacturing plants, which have been supplying substantial amounts of cement to northeastern India, including Tripura. He noted a growing trend of Bangladeshi traders exporting corrugated roofing sheets to the region, now subject to the new trade restrictions.

Trade data indicates a widening imbalance in bilateral commerce between Tripura and Bangladesh. In the 2022–23 financial year, Tripura imported goods valued at ₹636.72 crore from Bangladesh, increasing to ₹703.67 crore in 2023–24. In sharp contrast, exports from Tripura to Bangladesh plummeted from ₹121.37 crore in FY 2022–23 to just ₹12.31 crore in 2023–24.

Tripura shares an 856-kilometer international border with Bangladesh and boasts five active land ports. These gateways have been vital in facilitating cross-border trade under the India-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade.

Sankor Jyoti Baruah, the former general secretary of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), was apprehended by police in Dibrugarh on Monday following a violent altercation at a petrol station in Duliajan. His arrest has sparked debates throughout Assam, considering his prominent ties to one of the region’s most powerful student organizations.

The incident reportedly involved a clash among three groups, resulting in injuries to at least four petrol pump employees and prompting swift action from law enforcement. A woman’s FIR initiated the investigation, leading to Baruah’s detention late Sunday. He was subsequently moved to Dibrugarh Sadar Police Station under tight security.

According to police sources, Baruah faces charges in two separate cases, numbered 89/2025 and 90/2025. The latter includes several serious offenses under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, such as Sections 196 (1)(a), 196 (1)(b), 197 (1)(b), 197 (1)(c), 197 (1)(d), 3 (5), 352, 353 (1)(b), 353 (1)(c), and 353 (2). These charges reflect the seriousness of the situation, particularly allegations of assault, obstruction of public servants, and organized group violence.

Baruah, a notable figure during his AASU leadership, has denied any involvement in the violence. During questioning, he claimed that he went to the petrol station to help mediate and ease tensions. A video circulating online appears to substantiate his assertion, showing him attempting to calm an agitated crowd; however, police have not commented on the video’s authenticity or its relevance to the case.

Prior to his arrest, Baruah underwent a standard medical examination as mandated by law. Media personnel were not permitted to approach him upon his arrival at the police station.

According to police officials, the investigation is ongoing, with efforts to identify additional individuals involved in the altercation. “This is a serious incident involving multiple injuries and approximately 20 participants. We are actively pursuing leads and examining video footage to locate all those involved,” a senior officer stated.

A 39-year-old Dalit woman from Panavoor in Thiruvananthapuram has raised serious allegations against the police and the Chief Minister’s Office. She claims to have endured nearly 20 hours of mental torture at the Peroorkada Police Station in relation to a theft case.

R. Bindhu, a domestic worker, was summoned to the station after a complaint about a stolen necklace from her employer’s home. She alleges that during her detention last month, she faced severe mental harassment and was stripped of her basic human dignity.

Bindhu stated that when she asserted her innocence, the police threatened to implicate her daughters and pressured her to confess. She claimed that when she requested water, she was told to drink from the restroom. Her release only came after the homeowner found the missing necklace the following morning.

The complaint was initially filed by Omana Daniel, a resident of Ambalamukku, who accused Bindhu of the theft. Despite laws prohibiting the nighttime detention of women for questioning, Bindhu alleges she was kept in custody overnight and subjected to relentless interrogation without even being given water.

Additionally, she expressed dismay at the Chief Minister’s Office when she attempted, accompanied by her lawyer, to file a complaint regarding the false accusation and her treatment in custody. “I went to the Secretariat and submitted my complaint to a man at the CM’s office. My lawyer identified him as P. Sasi, the CM’s political secretary. He didn’t read the complaint; he merely set it aside,” she said.

In response, P. Sasi stated that Bindhu’s complaint was not dismissed but taken seriously, with directives issued to investigate and take action against any errant police personnel.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan has called for a departmental inquiry and strict action against the officers involved. He emphasized that the Chief Minister and Home Department cannot dismiss this incident as an isolated case.

The Sub-Inspector of Peroorkada station has been suspended following a preliminary report by the Special Branch. The City Police Commissioner confirmed that further action will depend on a detailed report from the Assistant Commissioner of Police, who has been tasked with conducting an internal inquiry.