‘Didn’t Intend To Hurt Anyone’s Sentiments’: Tripura DM Issues Apology For Disrupting Wedding Ceremony

“If anybody’s sentiments have been hurt then I apologise. I have no problem in tendering an apology. This was not done to hurt anyone’s sentiments but for larger interest of the people of Agartala so that they are safe,” said the 2013-batch IAS officer, who was earlier the Municipal Commissioner of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), while justifying the strict step.

Agartala: West Tripura District Magistrate Dr Shailesh Kumar Yadav has apologised for disrupting a marriage at Manikya Court, saying “he did not intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments” and the strict step was initiated for the larger interest of the people.

The District Magistrate, who raided along with his team two marriage halls hosting marriage events despite night curfew being imposed in the city to contain the spread of second wave of the coronavirus, added the strict step was initiated for the larger interest of the people.

"I apologise if any individual or group is pained by last night's action. But what was done last night was only for the benefit and well being of people. My aim was not to pain or humiliate anyone," said the 2013-batch IAS officer, who was earlier the Municipal Commissioner of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), while justifying the strict step.

The incident reportedly took place on Monday night when the District Magistrate visited two marriage halls and ordered their closure for violating the night curfew order issued under Section 144 of the CrPC. 

As many as 31 people, including 19 women, were detained from one marriage party for violating the night curfew and other Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) enforced to curb the Covid spread whereas in another raid at a marriage party in the city no detentions were made, IANS reported.

In the video which is being widely shared on social media, the District Magistrate is seen dragging the groom and priest by the collar at a marriage hall and ordering the police to arrest all attendees for violating the Covid-19 norms.

Speaking to the media personnel present at the spot, Yadav alleged that a section of policemen, who were hand-in-glove with the marriage parties, allowed holding the ceremonies, thereby blatantly violating the government orders.

“All these people are highly educated but they did not follow the norms amidst the alarming rise in coronavirus cases. These same people on the other hand will accuse the government of doing nothing. I also suggest suspending the officer-in-charge of the West Agartala police station," the IAS officer stated.

Authorities have imposed a corona night curfew in Agartala Municipal Corporation area from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Thursday onwards.

The order said that a maximum of 50 percent of the seating or hall capacity should be allowed in closed spaces for any social, cultural, entertainment or political gathering with a ceiling of 100 persons while higher numbers may be allowed in open spaces based on the size of the ground with a ceiling of 200 persons.