Agartala, September 29:
Violence during Monday’s Village Committee polling in Gomati district of Tripura has triggered a fresh political confrontation within Tripura’s ruling alliance, with Tipra Motha demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the shooting of its candidate, while opposition CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury accused the BJP-led government of failing to maintain law and order and safeguard the democratic electoral process.
The violence during Monday’s polling left Tipra Motha candidate Khachindra Riang critically injured in a gunfire incident at Gamaria, besides injuries to two others. Later in the night, Gomati district Superintendent of Police Anirban Das and a polling official also sustained serious head injuries, amid reports of further tension in the district.
On Tuesday, a Tipra Motha delegation submitted a memorandum to the Tripura State Election Commission seeking arrest within 24 hours over the attack on its candidate and supporters.
Meanwhile, Tipra Motha workers and supporters blocked a road connecting Amarpur, demanding the immediate arrest of those allegedly involved in the attack. Police forces were deployed at the spot as the agitation continued.
Tipra Motha MLA Dolly Reang, who was present at the protest, said the demand for withdrawal of the road blockade was linked directly to the arrest of the accused.
“Unless and until the culprits are arrested, the public are not going to withdraw the road blocking. This is our final message,” Reang said.
She said the issue was not being raised merely as a matter involving a political party but on humanitarian grounds and in defence of constitutional rights, pointing out that the injured candidate had participated in the democratic process.
The Motha MLA also said the latest information from the Additional SP and SDPO was that police were making efforts to arrest those responsible.
The road blockade came amid mounting anger within Tipra Motha over the incident, despite the party being an alliance partner of the BJP in the state and at the national level.
Earlier, opposition leader and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury visited the Udaipur district hospital and met Tipra Motha supporters injured in the violence.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Chaudhury alleged that the incident reflected the continuing deterioration of the law-and-order situation in Tripura under the BJP government.
He alleged that whenever the BJP was involved in an offence, the police’s proclaimed “zero tolerance” approach effectively became “zero power”, and said the violence represented another example of what he described as the failure of the government to uphold democratic rights.
Chaudhury also referred to the political relationship between the BJP and Tipra Motha, saying the latter would now have to deal with the consequences of being in an alliance with the BJP.
He said Monday’s Village Committee polling was particularly significant as the elections were being held after a gap of about 10 years following the expiry of the previous Village Committee tenure.
According to Chaudhary, people had been keen to exercise their franchise, but he alleged that the prevailing political atmosphere had raised concerns over whether the election could be conducted freely and fairly.
He further alleged that attempts were made at some places to disrupt or rig polling and that violence occurred in different locations, with supporters of both political groups suffering injuries.
The CPI(M) leader also alleged that the BJP and Tipra Motha had become political opponents at the local level despite their alliance at the state and national levels.
He alleged that under the BJP and Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha a political anarchy like situation is prevailing in Tripura because the rule of law and constitution is totally absent as people are coming forward to change this situation.
Tipra Motha, meanwhile, has warned that if arrests are not made within 24 hours, it would launch further agitation.
The developments have put the spotlight on the security arrangements and law-and-order situation surrounding the Village Committee elections, with the ruling alliance itself now demanding police action over violence involving its candidate and supporters.
