Kanchanpur observed total shut down for the second successive day protesting against mass rehabilitation of Bru refugees in Kanchanpur sub-division under North Tripura. The indefinite strike was called by local Bengalis and Mizo people under the banner of Joint Movement Committee (JMC).
On the second day of the indefinite strike, a water supply operator was mercilessly attacked and beaten up by a group of miscreants allegedly belonging the Bru refugees on Tuesday at Kanchanpur. This incident forced the administration to impose section 144 all across the sub-division.
The man, identified as Subal Dey, went to switch on the water supply near BBC Bazar where unknown miscreants thrashed him and hit him with sharp weapons. Spotting Subal injured and bleeding profusely, locals rushed to him and helped while police took him to the hospital. Later, he was shifted to North Tripura District hospital at Dharmanagar. According to sources, the condition of Subal is stable.
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Speaking on the issue, SDPO Kanchanpur Bikramjir Sukla Das said, “An inquiry has been initiated regarding the matter and soon the culprits will be put behind the bars”. However, he categorically refused to speak anything more regarding the matter. In the late evening, Kanchanpur Sub-divisional Magistrate Chandni Chandran promulgated section 144 to avert any inter-community tension.
“The situation turned to be highly volatile and prompt response was required to douse the brewing resentment among locals. This is why the administration decided to impose section 144”, maintained a highly placed source.
Meanwhile, the source said, the strike called by the JMC against the mass settlement of Brus entered its second successive day with most parts of the Kanchanpur sub-division remaining closed.
Roads wore a deserted look as shops remained closed and vehicles were off the roads. In some rural pockets, some shops kept open, however, there were very few people.
As expected, the strike was total in Mizo and Bengali dominated areas.
