Authorities imposed prohibitory orders across Kumarghat subdivision in Tripura’s Unakoti district after communal violence erupted on Friday, with a mosque and several houses and shops belonging to Muslims set on fire, officials said.

The violence broke out in the Saydarpara Shimultala area under Fatikroy police station limits. Police said tensions arose over the collection of puja subscriptions ahead of the Bhairab Mela scheduled later this month. The situation escalated after a local Muslim resident refused to pay the amount demanded, triggering an argument that soon turned violent.

Police and local residents said a mob blocked roads, vandalised vehicles and set fire to shops, haystacks kept outside homes, and residential properties. A mosque and multiple Muslim-owned houses and shops were damaged in the attacks. Several people were injured, causing panic in the locality.

To prevent further escalation, the district administration imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, banning gatherings of five or more people and restricting rallies and public meetings across the subdivision. Mobile internet services were suspended in Unakoti district for 48 hours as a precautionary measure.

Unakoti Superintendent of Police Avinash Rai said police responded promptly and deployed additional forces to control the situation. “The situation is peaceful and under control,” he said, adding that eight people have been arrested so far.

District Magistrate Tamal Majumdar and senior police officers visited the affected areas and reviewed security arrangements. Personnel from the Tripura State Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force have been deployed, and drone surveillance has been introduced in sensitive pockets.

In a statement, Unakoti Police said swift action was taken to prevent the violence from spreading and warned that strict legal action would be taken against those spreading rumours or misinformation.

Local MLA and minister Sudhangshu Das termed the incident unfortunate and said the administration acted quickly. He appealed to residents to maintain peace and refrain from circulating unverified information.

Meanwhile, residents shared videos on social media showing properties on fire. Some locals alleged that Muslim-owned properties were deliberately targeted, a claim police said is being examined as part of the investigation.