Agartala, January 8 — Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Thursday issued a strong warning to the BJP’s junior alliance partner, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), declaring that those involved in attacks on BJP workers would not be spared. His remarks came after at least two BJP functionaries were seriously injured in an alleged assault by TMP activists in Hezamara, West Tripura district, late Wednesday night.
Terming the incident “grave,” the Chief Minister said the law would take its own course and confirmed that he has directed senior police officials to take stringent action against the perpetrators without any leniency. “No one is above the law. Whoever is involved will be punished,” Saha asserted.
The tribal-based Tipra Motha Party, led by former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, has been a junior partner in the BJP-led government since March 2024. Expressing disappointment, Saha noted that despite meeting the Tipra Motha supremo earlier in the day, the incident was not mentioned during their interaction.
Emphasising that the BJP would not tolerate violence, the Chief Minister said the party would neither surrender nor show weakness before anyone. He added that police have already acted in similar cases and punished offenders in accordance with the law.
Without naming Pradyot Kishore Debbarma directly, Saha remarked that while it is often claimed that miscreants do not belong to any political party or community, “people in disguise are repeatedly involved in crimes and attacks.” He cautioned such elements against pursuing divisive and deceptive politics.
Referring to a speech he delivered at Chamanu two days earlier, Saha said he had spoken the truth, which the Tipra Motha leadership allegedly failed to accept. He accused the party of attempting to mislead indigenous people through propaganda to divert attention.
In the Hezamara incident, BJP booth president Dukhiya Debbarma and party worker Hiran Debbarma sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital. Senior BJP leaders, including Minister Tinku Roy, visited the injured and blamed the Tipra Motha Party for the violence.
With Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections due in the coming months, political tensions between the ruling allies have intensified significantly.
