Clash in Tripura after boy murdered, CM denies organs stolen
Agartala, June 27: All the vital organs of an 11-year-old student who was found brutally murdered in Tripura on Tuesday are intact, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said on Wednesday, after rumours that the boy's kidneys were removed led to a clash among villagers and policemen, leaving many injured.
"Class 4 student Purna Biswas was brutally murdered on Tuesday at Mohanpur (in western Tripura) and his body was found near his home late on Tuesday. After the postmortem it was found that all the vital organs of his body including the kidneys are intact," Deb told the Assembly.
Reports in local media on Wednesday claimed that the boy's body bore grievous injuries and the kidneys were missing, sending shock waves through the state.
In reply to questions by former Health Minister and CPI-M legislator Tapan Chakraborty, the Chief Minister said: "It was a most painful and heart-rending killing. Police personnel went to the village to help the villagers, but they were attacked by the agitated villagers. Two injured police officials are still in hospital."
Deb, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that one person was arrested in connection with Tuesday night's violence.
Education and Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath, who hails from Mohanpur area, said that in his 71-year life, he had never seen such a "brutal killing", disclosing how there were cuts and fatal injuries on the boy's lower abdomen and on the waist stretching to the back.
He said that the state government would at any cost resolve the murder and punish the guilty.
"A section of people are trying to disturb the peace and stability of the state. Nobody would be spared and stern action would be taken against those who violate the law."
A police official said that the officer-in-charge of Sidhai police station Sanjit Sen was among the 15 people, both villagers and police, injured in the clash.
"The mob attacked the police claiming that they (police) reached the spot late. Police also resorted to a baton charge to disperse the mob," the official said, adding that two suspects were detained in connection with the murder.
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Industry body BCIC welcomes K'taka budget, calls it growth oriented
Bengaluru (PTI): The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Saturday welcomed the Karnataka Budget 2026-27, recognising its balanced approach towards fostering economic growth, supporting MSMEs, and enhancing infrastructure development.
K Ravi, Senior Vice President, BCIC and Chairman, International Business Committee. appreciated the government's commitment to strengthening the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector through targeted financial incentives, skill development programs, and ease of doing business reforms.
"These measures are expected to boost manufacturing capabilities and create significant employment opportunities across the state," he said, in a statement.
According to him, the budget's focus on infrastructure, including investments in road connectivity, urban development, and industrial parks, tourism and hospitality aligns with BCIC's vision of a robust industrial ecosystem that supports sustainable growth and competitiveness.
BCIC also applauded the emphasis on IT, AI, technology and innovation, which it said will drive Karnataka's position as a leading hub for startups and digital economy initiatives.
While the budget presents ambitious welfare schemes and agricultural support, BCIC said it encourages continued dialogue between industry stakeholders and the government to ensure effective implementation and maximise impact.
BCIC further said that it remains committed to collaborating with the government to facilitate a conducive business environment that promotes investment, innovation, and inclusive growth in Karnataka.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented his record 17th budget with a total outlay of Rs 4,48,004 crore.
Reacting to the state budget, Karmendra Kohli, CEO, SecurEyes said it sends a strong signal on digital responsibility.
He said in a statement that the proposed social media ban for children under 16 is a timely step but its success will hinge entirely on robust digital identity verification and enforcement mechanisms, which are inherently cybersecurity challenges.
Similarly, the establishment of the Bangalore Robotics and AI Innovation Zone and AI Centers of Excellence is exciting, but every AI platform is a potential attack surface, Kohli said.
"As Karnataka accelerates its digital ambitions, cybersecurity cannot be an afterthought; it must be embedded from the ground up. We look forward to the state building on its Cybersecurity Policy 2024 with dedicated budget allocations that match the scale of its tech aspirations," he added.
