TIPRA Motha supporters created a mayhem as they ran amok in Lalsingmura under Charilam Constituency in Tripura on Tuesday on the last day of campaigning for February 16 State Assembly polls.
At least 10 persons were injured, several houses were looted, three bikes and a vehicle were vandalized in the violence covering around 1.5 km area. To bring the situation under control, security personnel had to open blank fire. Panic gripped the local people in the mixed populated area even as a large posse of security personnel including the Central Forces was deployed and administrative as well as Poll officers rushed to the spot.
As per the latest information, situation is under control and no further untoward incidents were reported.
With the election is less than two days away, a group of TIPRA Motha supporters launched an organized attack at the Lalsingmura local market and adjoining areas. Shocked and panicked, utter chaos prevailed as the vendors, traders and common people started running for a shelter. The TIPRA Motha activists attacked people randomly. They even barged into shops and assaulted people. Many panic-stricken people hide them in the nearby paddy field.
At this sudden attack, at least 10 persons were injured and among them, three were sent to the GB Hospital with serious injuries.
Soon the violence spread and hit nearby parts of Rangapania where some of the shops were vandalized and looted by the TIPRA Motha workers.
Some of the affected traders alleged that the TIPRA Motha workers came from a party rally and launched the attack in an organized manner.
A local source added that the incident had taken place after a group of four Tipra Motha workers was attacked by the local BJP supporters.
TIPRA Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma in a social media post commented, “There is a clear attempt to create tension in Charilam by BJP. I appeal to all that any reaction from our workers will only help them create polarisation. Please stay calm and understand that they want violence so that they can divide the Tiprasa/ Bengali unity in the area.”
Notbaly, BJP nominated Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Debbarma in the Charilam Assembly constituency against whom TIPRA Motha and Congress-CPIM alliance also put up candidates.
