A sub-divisional town, Teliamura under Khowai in Tripura witnessed tensed situation on Monday evening after violent clashes between Congress and BJP supporters broke out in which several people including a local journalist were seriously injured. The clash erupted over celebration by local Congress activists of victory of Trinamool Congress in Bengal.
Initially local people were taken aback after seeing the Congress supporters celebrating Didi’s victory in Bengal where Congress was whitewashed – however, soon after clashes spread, people fled away.
BJP MLA from Teliamura, Kalyani Roy rushed to the spot and staged a Dharna in front of the police station that lasted for two hours demanding actions against the CPIM and Congress supporters, who according to her, created the tension in the area.
“A section of people with veiled political intentions were trying to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of Teliamura. It could not be tolerated”, she said and alleged Congress and CPIM are maintaining a clandestine pact for carrying out such activities there.
Local sources said a heated altercation broke out between BJP Yuva Morcha (BJYM) supporters and the supporters of the Congress party over a celebration that the Congress workers held to mark the victory of Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.
During the celebrations, the Congress supporters allegedly hurled abuses on the BJYM supporters standing in close proximity.
The heated exchange of words soon took a turn of fist-cuffs and pitched battle between the groups. BJP General Secretary Teliamura, Gopal Barman claimed that a section of ‘over enthusiastic’ Congress supporters blocked the road of BJYM workers and thrashed them.
Barman accused youth Congress leader Bivas Das and Anirban Dhar of attacking the BJYM supporters. A case was lodged against both of the youth congress activists.
Meanwhile, Bivas Das refuted the allegations and accused the BJYM supporters of attacking him.
A large contingent of police rushed to the spot of occurrence with TSR troops deployed in every nook and corner of the market. The police even resorted to mild baton charge to hold control over the situation.
Later on, a local TV journalist Rahul Das was also assaulted allegedly by the Congress supporters. Sources said, after the incident when Das was returning after covering the political violence, a section of the Congress workers thrashed him and branded him as a “BJP man”.
Das received serious injuries in his head and back due to repeated blows of rod.
As soon as the news spread, BJP MLA Kalyani Roy rushed to the police station and staged a Dharna demanding immediate arrest of Bivas Das.
Local media persons also joined her in the agitation. After almost two hours, the Dharna was withdrawn after police superintendent Khowai assured them of punitive measures against the accused persons.
However, simmering tension is still palpable in certain areas of the sub-division.
