Agartala, May 13, 2025: Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath has taken a firm stance against what he described as “planned sabotage” after an alarming wave of power outages struck Agartala and its surrounding areas on Monday night. A total of 21 transformers were found deliberately vandalized, triggering widespread blackouts and sparking public outrage.
“This is not a technical fault or the result of a natural calamity. What we are witnessing is a well-organized act of sabotage by an evil gang. The state is generating sufficient power. There is no deficit. These blackouts are clearly staged to disrupt public life,” said Minister in a press communique on Tuesday.
The Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) confirmed that several areas in Agartala — including Dhaleswar Road No. 8 and 9, Chandrapur, Joyguru, Shibnagar and Jamtala experienced sudden power cuts despite the main transmission lines being functional. In many cases, transformers were tampered with, gang switches were thrown, cut-outs removed, and in some areas, heavy objects were found hanging on power lines, causing short circuits.
Preliminary investigation revealed CCTV footage from Kamarpukur Par, showing a suspect arriving on a scooter and disabling a transformer component, following which the area plunged into darkness. “This clearly indicates intent and planning. It’s no accident,” a TSECL official said.
A formal FIR has been lodged at the East Agartala Police Station and the police administration along with the IT Department is now involved in tracking down the culprits. The Power Minister has spoken to the Superintendent of Police of West Tripura and demanded full cooperation in the probe.
“The state government is fully committed to ensuring stable and secure power supply. Strict legal action will be taken against those found guilty. But we also urge the public to stay alert. If you see suspicious activity near power lines or transformers, report it immediately,” Nath assured.
He emphasized that under the Smart City project, scheduled outages were communicated in advance and that no unauthorized cuts should be occurring. “Criminals are using power cuts as a cover for theft or other crimes. This is not just sabotage — it’s a threat to public safety,” he warned.
As the investigation progresses, the state government faces a new security challenge in protecting vital infrastructure. The Minister concluded with a call to action: “The cooperation of the public is our greatest strength against such conspiracies.”
