A man died after a crowd dispersed in panic during a security response at Tulasikhar in Khowai district in Tripura today while village committee poll votes were being counted, with the incident drawing sharply different accounts from the government and Tipra Motha.
Key Takeaways
- Matilal Karmakar died after a stampede-like situation during a security response at Tulasikhar in Khowai.
- CM Dr Manik Saha said stone pelting preceded a mild lathi-charge and the subsequent crowd dispersal.
- Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma alleged excessive force by BSF personnel and said the party would file an FIR.
Matilal Karmakar died following a stampede-like situation at Tulasikhar in Khowai district after security personnel resorted to a lathi-charge. Senior Tipra Motha leaders in Khowai identified him as an active party worker.
The incident occurred amid the counting of votes for the village polls. It also triggered a political dispute, with Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma offering different accounts of what led to Karmakar’s death.
CM Saha Says Crowd Dispersal Led to Tragedy
Dr Manik Saha said he had received information about the incident. According to the Chief Minister, a group gathered at the spot and started pelting stones.
He said security personnel responded with what he described as a mild lathi-charge.
“The force used by the security personnel was not severe,” Dr Saha said. He added that the situation changed when people in the crowd started running in different directions.
According to the Chief Minister, Karmakar fell on the ground during the dispersal and suffered serious injuries.
Dr Saha said Karmakar died while being taken to a hospital in Agartala.
Chief Minister Questions Stone Pelting During Counting
The Chief Minister termed stone pelting and disobeying security personnel unnecessary during the counting process.
He said such incidents were particularly unwarranted when the election results were showing a favourable trend for the ruling NDA alliance.
Dr Saha also said he did not have complete information about Karmakar’s political affiliation. However, he assured that the government would stand with the bereaved family.
“We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate death,” the Chief Minister said.
The incident also saw an attack on the vehicle of IG Law and Order Ipper Manchak.
Tipra Motha Alleges Excessive Force
Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma gave a different account of the incident. He alleged that BSF personnel deployed for security arrangements used excessive force against Karmakar.
Debbarma claimed that the party had video evidence showing BSF personnel hitting Karmakar with lathis.
He described Karmakar as an active worker of Tipra Motha and said the party was grieving his death.
“Vote counting is proceeding peacefully across the state, but we have lost one of our members here,” Debbarma said.
He added that the party would file an FIR after the post-mortem and other formalities.
Karmakar Referred to Agartala Hospital
Debbarma claimed that Karmakar was initially taken to Khowai hospital after sustaining injuries.
Doctors later referred him to GB Pant Hospital in Agartala, he said.
Karmakar died while being shifted to the hospital, according to the account given by Chief Minister Saha. Debbarma, meanwhile, said he was declared dead at GB Pant Hospital.
The two sides also differed over the circumstances that led to the fatal injuries.
Political Debate Intensifies Over Poll Results
The incident came as counting continued for the village polls.
Dr Saha said the results were broadly matching the expectations of the ruling alliance. He said some results did not meet expectations in certain areas because of a lack of coordination.
Debbarma also said the election results were largely in line with what Tipra Motha and the NDA alliance had anticipated.
“The outcome is unfolding along the lines of what we had predicted beforehand,” he said.
Saha Targets CPIM and Congress
The Chief Minister also attacked the Opposition over its expected response to the election results.
He said CPIM and Congress had failed to perform and would not be able to blame electronic voting machines this time because the village polls used ballot papers.
Dr Saha said he expected the Opposition to come up with another explanation for its electoral performance.
The Tulasikhar incident has therefore added a sharp political dimension to an otherwise election-focused counting day, with the government and Tipra Motha presenting contrasting claims about the events that preceded Karmakar’s death.
