By Firstdespatch Desk Dec 01, 2022
Agartala, Dec 1 (FD) Four persons have been arrested in connection with the clash between CPI(M) and BJP activists in poll-bound Tripura's Sepahijala district yesterday, in which one Left activist was killed and 20 others were injured, police said on Thursday.Police said the incident occurred at Charilam bazaar area at about 11 am on Wednesday, 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.
Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Manik Sarkar, who visited the injured party workers at GBP Hospital, condemned the incident.
"There is jungle raj in Tripura, where political activities by opposition parties have literally been banned. People of the state, who have been witnessing such incidents in the last four-five years, will give a befitting reply in due course of time," he said.
Sarkar also appealed to the police to immediately book the accused.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said several BJP workers were seriously injured in the "pre-planned and surprise attack by CPI (M)-backed miscreants" at Charilam on Wednesday.
"I visited GBP Hospital to meet our injured party workers. Terrorism and violence have no place in the holy land of Tripura. Evil forces are creating such incidents of violence to tarnish the image of the state.
"The well-informed residents of the state will give a befitting reply to this despicable conspiracy hatched for political gains," he said.
Meanwhile, the opposition CPIM held protest rallies in different sub-divisions of the state demanding arrest of BJP miscreants who allegedly attacked the party supporters and workers including the killer of CPIM activist Sahid Mia. A CPIM spokesperson said, police have arrested two persons in this connection but many more mistreatments were involved with the incidents of the attack, who also should be brought under the book. FD JK