Tripura Pradesh Congress strongly condemned attacks on party supporters at Suryamaninagar near Agartala and Santirbazar under South District during the ‘Tripura banchau – Bharat Jodo’ on Friday (Nov 25). The State Congress leaders slammed the Chief Minister who also holds the Home Department for unabated attacks on the Opposition parties.
Reacting to the allegation, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said, Political violence has become a culture during the Congress-TUJS alliance government and the last 25 years long Left tenure. It is impossible to bring end to this long practiced political violence with 4-5 years.
The Chief Minister, however, made it clear and said, there is no room for violence in the State and Police have been given free hand to deal with the perpetrators.
Dr Saha also urged to all to stay away from creating violence and disturbances in the State.
Trouble started at Suryamaninagar Assembly Constituency area near Agartala as Congress supporters were preparing to organize ‘Tripura banchau – Bharat Jodo’ rally today. Miscreants attack the Congress supporters and damaged the campaign vehicles as well as campaign materials. In the attack some Congress men sustained injuries. According to party sources about 15 persons were injured.
“As several persons who were injured fled away after the attack, it is difficult to mention exact number of the wounded Congress supporters”, Congress party leader Ashish Saha said and blamed the Police for playing the role of a mute spectator.
In protest against the attack and the role of the Police, Congress leaders including Saha met the IG, Law and Order at the Police Headquarters in Agartala. Saha threatened to lay siege to the Police HQ if such attacks continue.
Lone Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman also condemned the incident and made several allegations castigating the ruling BJP.
Congress Party supporters also held Tripura Banchau – Bharat Jodo rally in Santirbazar. Some miscreants tried to disrupt the rally after it started – however, Police intervened and averted any untoward incident. Later, as the rally was approaching to its end point, alleged BJP supporters attacked the rally and panicked Congress supporters scattered away while a few of them were injured. Prompt Police intervention prevented the situation to spill out of the hand.
Congress leaders also pointed out that prior Police permissions were obtained for both the rallies.
Later, BJP supporters held a protest programme and demanded action against the alleged attempts by the Opposition parties to create disturbances.
