By Firstdespatch Desk Nov 30, 2022
Agartala, Nov 30 (FD) A 65-year old CPIM activist and four others including an MLA of the party were seriously injured in a clash with the bike born ruling BJP activists at Charilam in Sipahijala district, about 25 km from here.
Police said the incident occurred at Charilam bazaar area at about 11 am when the activists and supporters of the left party led by former minister and the sitting MLA, Bhanulal Saha gathered there to open their party office.
Secretary of the state unit of opposition CPIM, Jiten Chowdhury said that the party had informed police about their programme and obtained permission for it, but did not get any protection from police when they were attacked by the BJP sheltered goons.
“The attack was unprovoked and preplanned and reign of terror was let lose in the area by the ruling party ever since they came to power in the state in 2018. People have lost their right to exercise democratic activities. Jungle rule prevailed there”, he told reporters.
Police identified the deceased as Sahid Mia (65), a farmer from the North Charilam village.
The injured persons were treated in local hospital and many were shifted to G.B.Panth hospital here as their conditions worsened.
Senior CPI (M) leader Bhanulal Saha said that their peaceful and police-permitted programme had been attacked by the BJP and ‘our workers might have resisted, having no other alternative’.
However, BJP’s tribal leader Devid Debbarma, a close aide of deputy chief minister Jishnu Debbarma, said that CPI (M) and ‘Tipra Motha’ supporters had joined hands to attack the BJP workers, many of whom were injured.
State’s Deputy Chief Minister and prominent BJP leader, who represent the constituency, alleged that CPI-M MLA Bhanu Lal Saha had entered the area with hoodlums from outside and clash took place when the BJP activists resisted them. FD PD JK