Agartala, Oct 10 (IANS): A senior police officer was arrested in Tripura for allegedly molesting a tribal girl who was pandal-hopping during the Durga Puja festival along with her friend, police said here on Monday.

"A tribal girl lodged a complaint of molestation against Deputy Commandant of TSR (Tripura State Rifles) Bishnu Debnath at Chailengta in Dhalai district (in northern Tripura) on Sunday night," police spokesman Uttam Bhowmik told IANS.

"After a preliminary inquiry, police arrested the security officer," he said.

Debnath is the adjutant of the 8th Battalion of the elite force that specialises in counter-insurgency operations.

In a separate incident, five people, including a security personnel were seriously injured here on Sunday night when a speeding car hit Puja revellers.

People burnt the car and apprehended the driver of the vehicle and his friends and thrashed them before handing them over to the police.