Even as the strike called by unions of farmer organizations in demand of repealing the farm Bills failed to evoke any significant impact on normal life in Tripura, clashes erupted between workers between Congress and BJP workers at Kailashahar on Tuesday.
According to eyewitnesses, the clashes broke out after workers of both the parties who came out in support and against the Bandh respectively and assembled head on during the picketing. The Congress party workers under the leadership of former party MLA Birajit Sinha locked all the offices and picketed in favor of the Bandh.
In the meantime, BJP workers also came out in counter picketing. As soon as they reached in front of the industries department office and attempted to unlock the office, Congress workers retaliated and clashes broke out.
Both the groups hurled brickbats and stones upon each other and soon a huge contingent of police and TSR Jawans were pressed into action to hold control over the situation.
Altogether 291 picketers were arrested and then released as the situation stumbled back to normalcy.
Speaking on the issue, Congress leader Birajit Sinha claimed that people of Kailashahar extended full support to the Bandh and the Congress party. The party workers of Congress also burnt tyres and caused ruckus in the Kailashahar main market. Fire tenders were also pressed into action.
On the other hand, BJP leaders claimed that it was the Congress party that attempted to fuel tension as people rejected their call of Bandh.