Supporters of ruling BJP and Opposition CPIM clashed at Singichhera under Khowai in Tripura on Wednesday Nov 23).
In the violence, at least 12 persons of both the parties were injured and three persons of the injured persons were referred to the GB Hospital in Agartala with critical injuries.
Amidst simmering tension, security personnel were deployed in the area. Violence threw normal life out of gear.
CPIM Khowai sub-division Committee organised a rally as per pre-scheduled programme. Local party sources said they also obtained prior Police permission for the rally.
The rally started from Khowai town in which about 300 party workers took part. Ex-MLA of CPIM, Pabitra Kar, incumbent MLA Nirmal Biswas and other local leaders were present in the rally. The procession was moving towards Singichhera.
Meantime, more than one hundred supporters of the ruling BJP put up a barricade at Beltali area to prevent the CPIM rally to enter Singichhera.
In presence of heavy security personnel, supporters of both parties came face-to-face and tension started to build up. Soon, the situation took a turn for worse and the area became a battlefield with supporters of both the parties attacked each other. Police personnel, present there, had a tough time in controlling the violent party workers.
People were panicked and shop owners pulled down shutters. Vehicular movement along the Khowai-Kamalpur road was stalled owing to violence.
SDPO Rajib Sutradhar alongwith CRPF and TSR jawans reached the spot and rescued the injured persons. Total 12 persons were taken to Khowai Hospital according to the available information. Among them, three were sent to the GB Hospital.
After a prolonged effort, the situation was brought under control.
CPIM leader Pabitra Kar said the attack on CPIM rally aptly demonstrate that BJP has lost its ground. The ruling party is dependent on miscreants. Kar also mocked at law and order situation and said this is the example of the Chief Minister’s good governance.
BJP sources blamed the CPIM for violence alleging that ruling party supporters were attacked while they were campaigning for an upcoming programme.
While leaders of BJP and CPIM were busy in blaming each other, tension and panic spread over to the Khowai town area. Adequate police deployment was made to tackle the situation.
