Political tension between ruling coalition partners – BJP and IPFT – took an uglier turn at Khumulwng on Thursday. Tension in the area was simmering after miscreants – allegedly belonging to IPFT – set a newly constructed BJP office ablaze yesterday. However, as scheduled, BJP State president Dr Manik Saha along with other leaders went to Khumulwng to attend a pre-fixed political programme.
The BJP president and his team of leaders, who went to Khumulwng to hold a crucial organizational meeting and then attend a joining programme, were interrupted by a group of IPFT workers sitting in a nearby party office. The IPFT workers pelted stones and hurled abuses on the BJP leaders and tried to create chaos, sources said.
According to sources, the BJP had convened a meeting of its tribal wing—Bharatiya Janata Janajati Morcha (BJJM). Apart from Dr. Saha, MP Rebati Tripura, General Secretary of BJJM Pratik Kishore Debbarman and former MDC Patiram Tripura also joined in the meeting.
A total of 65 families from IPFT and CPM joined the saffron camp during in the programme. However, while returning from the meeting, the source said, a number of IPFT activists sat on a nearby party office began brick-batting at the BJP supporters. Three among the thousands of BJP supporters sustained injuries in the attack. Intriguing it may sound that the attack was committed despite adequate security measures and police escort. Notwithstanding direct assault and intimidation, the BJP state president—Dr Manik Saha managed the party workers to stay calm and not to retaliate.
“Or the situation would have gone worse as the BJP workers also got edgy and were keen to retaliate”, said one BJP leader.
Speaking on the issue, BJJM general secretary Pratik Kishore Debbarman said, “We will go in the legal way. Despite police escorts and adequate deployment of forces 20 to 25 miscreants pelted stones at our party workers. If miscreants can display such audacity that they can attack people in spite of police deployment, the aggressive behaviour of them can very well be understood”.
According to police, though the situation was by and large peaceful in the area there were indications of some tension in certain areas, explicitly, in those areas where from the newcomers belonged.
“We have deployed enough forces-TSR, CRPF and police to tackle the situation”, a senior police official said.
