Harang Bridge Collapse: Barak Democratic Front Demands CBI Probe

The Barak Democratic Front (BDF) has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the recent collapse of the Harang Bridge, stating that a magisterial-level inquiry would not be sufficient to uncover the full extent of the causes and accountability behind the incident. The collapse has severely disrupted road connectivity between the Barak Valley and neighbouring countries, raising significant concerns about regional security and infrastructure governance.

In a press statement issued by the party, BDF Chief Convener Pradip Dutta Roy stressed that the Harang Bridge holds strategic importance due to its location near the international border. He stated that the current situation in neighbouring Bangladesh already poses heightened security concerns for the Northeast, and a breakdown in connectivity from the Barak Valley serves as a serious national security warning.

Roy pointed out that local residents had raised repeated complaints about the substandard quality of repair works during the bridge’s construction. Despite these warnings, authorities reportedly failed to respond adequately. He further alleged that the collapse is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of negligence, referencing the condition of the Gammon Bridge — which, according to Roy, was allowed to deteriorate despite persistent concerns from the public. With the Gammon Bridge nearing disuse, the Harang Bridge was hastily reconstructed without sufficient safeguards, resulting in the valley’s current disconnection from key road networks.

Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Roy stated that only a central agency like the CBI would be capable of conducting an impartial and thorough investigation. He also called for a simultaneous inquiry into the long-standing truck overloading syndicate operating in the region, which he believes directly contributed to the bridge’s collapse.

Echoing these concerns, BDF Media Cell Convener Joydeep Bhattacharjee noted that while the Public Works Department (PWD) has cited overloaded trucks as the cause of the collapse, the underlying issue lies in systemic corruption and regulatory failure. According to Bhattacharjee, since the bridge’s construction, trucks carrying loads nearly double the permissible limit have been plying the route. Despite the presence of additional police checkpoints and official directives, these overloaded vehicles were allowed to pass unchecked due to alleged bribery and collusion involving influential individuals with connections extending to Dispur.

He further claimed that the illegal truck overloading syndicate has been operating in the valley for over a decade and that previous concerns raised by the BDF and other local organizations were consistently ignored. Bhattacharjee warned that a local-level inquiry would likely shield powerful figures behind the operation while targeting only minor players. To avoid a repeat of past investigations that failed to deliver justice, he urged the Central Government to hand over the case to the CBI for an impartial and comprehensive investigation.

The BDF has also called upon all political parties and local organizations to support its demand for a CBI probe, stating that the matter goes beyond politics and is in the broader interest of the Barak Valley and national security.

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