At least 16 supporters of ruling BJP and Congress were injured in a face-off between the two parties at Charilam under Sepahijala district in Tripura on Monday (Aug 1). Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse crowd, sources said.
Amidst counter allegations, BJP supporters staged a road blockade demanding punitive actions against the violent Congress workers.
According to details, both the Congress and BJP were scheduled to hold their party programmes in Charilam today – and accordingly, Police were deployed.
Congress organized a joining programme in front of the Congress Bhawan in Charilam in which Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee president Birjit Sinha, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman and other Congress leaders were present.
Meantime, the ruling BJP also organized a party programme – a thanks giving rally today.
After the joining programme, Congress leaders sought permission to hold a rally, however, they were denied. This created resentment among the Congress supporters gathered at the Congress Bhawan.
The ruling BJP alleged, Congress supporters damaged campaign materials of BJP and also made provocative slogans targeting the BJP workers.
Situation started to deteriorate and scuffle reportedly ensued after BJP supporters protested the incident.
According to Congress leaders, a large number of BJP supporters assembled near the Congress Bhawan when the joining programme of the latter was underway. Congress also alleged, BJP workers raised provocative slogans targeting Congress supporters.
Hot altercation and scuffle between the supporters of the two parties soon turned into a clash in which at least 16 supporters including BJP’s Charilam Mandal president Rajkumar Debnath were injured.
Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman alleged Bishalgarh Sub-division has become a politically chaotic area – people are disgusted with the BJP and ready to join hands with Congress.
On the other hand, the BJP workers staged a road blockade protesting the Congress’ alleged attack. The protestors demanded immediate arrest of the persons involved in attacking the BJP workers.
The vehicular movement on the national highway came to a halt at Charilam following the road blockade that lasted for over two hours.
District Magistrate, Sepahijala- Viswashree B, Superintendent of Police, Sepahijala- Ratiranjan Debnath, DSP Manas Debbarma and other officials rushed to the spot but failed to clear the road.
Later, Deputy Chief Minister, also the local MLA, Jishnu Dev Varma reached the spot and assured the agitators that appropriate action would be taken against the accused persons.
Strongly condemning the attack on BJP workers, Dev Varma said, “A bunch of goons are trying to disrupt the democracy and rule of law. People have rejected them for their hooliganism and anti-social activities”.