Agartala, October 23: Indicating fresh tensions within BJP-led NDA alliance in Tripura, on Friday TIPRA Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma announced that he would surrender all three of his personal security officers (PSOs), alleging repeated changes in his security arrangements without any explanation from the state police.
Addressing a press conference at the MLA hostel here, Debbarma said he had written at least 10 letters to the Superintendent of Police (Security), seeking clarification over the repeated changes, with copies sent to Director General of Police GS Rao and Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha.
The Motha MLA who is considered close to his party’s founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and during the TTAADC election has been very vocal against the BJP alleged that he had received no response in connection to his letters. The latest development has again brought into focus the differences within the BJP-led ruling NDA alliance in Tripura.
Debbarma said his security personnel were withdrawn on October 9 or 10 and that he wrote to the authorities on October 13. Although a PSO was assigned to him shortly before Friday’s press conference, he declined the arrangement and announced his decision to relinquish his security cover.
“I have no complaint against my PSOs, and they have no complaint against me. Why are they being changed repeatedly?” he asked.
The MLA claimed that security personnel assigned to some other TIPRA Motha legislators and elected members of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) had also been changed repeatedly without any stated reason. He contrasted this with the security arrangements of some other legislators, which, he said, had remained unchanged for eight or nine years.
Questioning the rationale behind the changes, Debbarma said he frequently travelled to remote and inaccessible areas and needed an explanation from the authorities for the decisions affecting his security.
He demanded an inquiry into the functioning of SP (Security) Amitabh Paul, alleging partisan bias in the handling of security arrangements. He also called for a transparent transfer policy, time-bound written responses to representations from elected representatives, security personnel commensurate with their requirements and proper supervision of the allocation of arms and ammunition to PSOs deployed for VIP security.
Debbarma said he had also raised concerns with the DGP over cases registered against TIPRA Motha workers and elected representatives. He urged the police to base their actions on evidence and video footage rather than complaints that were not supported by evidence.
Referring to a case involving TTAADC member David Murasingh, he said the police should establish whether evidence linked him to the alleged offence before proceeding against him.
The MLA said he had urged the DGP not to arrest people he believed to be innocent and to ensure that law enforcement was not influenced by political considerations.
Questioning how a police officer could repeatedly alter the security arrangements of a legislator belonging to a constituent of the ruling alliance, Debbarma said the issue raised serious concerns about the functioning of the state police administration.
“If anything happens to me because of the security situation, the government and those responsible for security arrangements will be accountable,” he said.
He also referred to past incidents involving the deaths of two MLAs of Tripura – Parimal Saha and Madhusudan Saha while expressing concern over the possible consequences of inadequate security.
Debbarma said he had called the press conference to bring his concerns over police administration and the security arrangements provided to elected representatives before the public. He also announced that he would leave the MLA hostel in Agartala and shift to his ancestral house near Mohanpur.
The episode comes amid reported differences among the BJP, TIPRA Motha and other constituents of the ruling alliance in Tripura. Debbarma’s allegations have added to questions over coordination between the police administration and an elected representative of a regional party that is part of the NDA.
