Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb who is presently in New Delhi called up local senior administrative and police officials to enquire about today’s incident. He has also talked to Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik who is in Agartala. Both Pratima Bhoumik and ICA minister Sushanta Chowdhury visited the Pratibadi Kalam office tonight (Wednesday).
Chowdhury said, the state government is always sympathetic to the media and committed to protect the voice of the fourth pillar of the state. He said the attack on the newspaper office would be taken seriously by the government and all necessary actions would be taken.
Speaking to the media, Pratima Bhoumik reiterated State Government respects media and is media friendly. It is always keen to maintain a good relation with the ‘fourth pillar of democracy’. She also said, it has been alleged Yuva Morcha activists were behind the attack on the media house – the party will inquire into the allegation.
However, she said, “We never allow and support such incidences – that is why we have come here at the instruction of the Chief Minister. I am assuring you that the State Government is with all the media houses. Opposition leader and
CPM politburo member Manik Sarkar, alleged that during Wednesday’s violence and arson police were in most places mute spectators. Sarkar said he had spoken to Chief Secretary, Kumar Alok, and senior police officials, requesting them to stop these pre-planned political violence.
“The attacks were committed on the CPM office and workers in as many as 8-10 places”, he said.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesman Nabendu Bhattacharjee said that Sarkar himself has been instigating violence in different parts of Tripura to create lawlessness in the peaceful state.
“On Monday, Sarkar, while visiting his Assembly constituency in Dhanpur, provoked the CPI-M workers to unleash attacks on the BJP workers. People of the state do not want to repeat the political violence that was a regular feature during the 25 years of CPI-M rule.
“Today, when the BJP members and leaders were holding rallies in Agartala and in other parts of the state, stones were hurled on them by the CPI-M workers,” Bhattacharjee claimed.