Agartala, April 30: Political tensions have intensified in Tripura following a fire at the CPI(M) party office in Mandai, with the Opposition accusing the ruling party of fostering violence and undermining democratic institutions.
On Tuesday, senior CPI(M) leader and Politburo member Jitendra Choudhury led a protest in Agartala to denounce the incident. Carrying red flags, CPI(M) supporters demonstrated against what they claimed were coordinated attacks on party offices and leaders across the state, including Mandai, Dharmanagar, and Agartala. The party alleges that ruling party supporters were behind the acts of vandalism, assault, and arson.
Choudhury, speaking at the protest, claimed the Mandai party office was deliberately set ablaze. While police officials, including the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed that investigations are underway, Choudhury expressed skepticism about the outcome. “Filing FIRs in such cases is futile, as perpetrators have not been arrested for years,” he stated. He further warned, “The culprits will not escape. Everyone will have to answer one day.”
The CPI(M) has condemned the incident as an attack on democracy, accusing the state government of turning a blind eye to political violence. Choudhury also criticized the administration for allegedly enabling lawlessness and suppressing opposition voices. “How will the government save face when the rule of law is being openly violated?” he asked.
Party leaders demanded immediate arrests and firm action against those involved. They asserted that such incidents are not just political attacks but a direct threat to democratic discourse in Tripura.
The state government has yet to issue an official response to the allegations, even as opposition pressure mounts and concerns over political violence continue to grow.
