**Agartala, June 16:** A delegation of senior Congress leaders on Tuesday met the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at the Salbagan camp and submitted a memorandum condemning the alleged assault on Youth Congress activists during a protest in Agartala on Monday.
The delegation was led by Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Ashish Kumar Saha and included Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and MLA Sudip Roy Barman, Pradesh Youth Congress president Neel Kamal Saha, and several other party leaders and supporters.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Ashish Kumar Saha alleged that the incident reflected a growing erosion of democratic values under the present government. According to him, Youth Congress activists were carrying out a peaceful demonstration on issues of public concern when security personnel, including members of the CRPF and police, allegedly used water cannons and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the gathering.
“The attack was completely unprovoked and intentional,” Saha claimed. He informed reporters that a formal complaint regarding the incident had already been lodged at the West Agartala Police Station on Monday evening.
The TPCC chief further alleged that a senior CRPF official played a key role in escalating the situation. According to Saha, the officer used offensive language and allegedly encouraged security personnel to act against the demonstrators. He described the alleged actions as “barbaric” and said they had damaged the reputation of the CRPF, a force traditionally known for its discipline and professionalism.
Saha also claimed that video footage of the incident clearly documented the events and would serve as evidence in support of the allegations made by the party. He expressed hope that the DIG would examine the matter impartially and initiate appropriate action if wrongdoing was found.
Congress leaders maintained that the alleged use of force against peaceful protesters had raised serious concerns about the protection of democratic rights and freedom of expression. They argued that such incidents undermine public confidence in institutions and called for accountability from those responsible.
Reiterating the party’s commitment to democratic methods of protest, Congress leaders asserted that attempts to suppress dissent through force would not deter them from raising public issues and continuing their political movement through peaceful means.
