Agartala, October 23Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Friday said a state police team had reached Delhi to initiate the process of bringing back social media content creator Amir Shokeen, arrested over alleged racial abuse of a youth from Tripura.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Community Hall at Vaishnav Tilla in Amsali, on the outskirts of Agartala, Saha said the accused was in Delhi Police custody and the process of bringing him to Tripura would follow the prescribed legal procedures.
“Delhi Police has arrested him. Our team has already gone there. He is now in their police custody. Whatever procedures are required under the law will be followed,” the chief minister said, according to his remarks in Bengali.
Shokeen was arrested by Delhi Police on Thursday after a video allegedly showing him making racially derogatory remarks and behaving inappropriately towards a youth from Tripura triggered widespread outrage. A case was registered in Tripura, and the state police team travelled to Delhi to seek transit remand for further investigation.
Saha had earlier directed the Director General of Police to coordinate with Delhi Police in the matter. The accused’s alleged actions have drawn condemnation from political leaders, student organisations and civil society groups.
The chief minister also addressed questions concerning the forthcoming urban local body elections, India Block and the deployment of central forces.
Referring to the conduct of the recent elections to village committees, Saha said the authorities had acknowledged that the polls were conducted peacefully. He said the availability of central forces had been an issue during earlier elections, when forces could not be provided amid polling in Assam and West Bengal.
Saha said he had raised the question of central force deployment in discussions with the concerned election authorities, while pointing out that the demand for central forces in local body elections had also prompted questions.
He indicated that the issue needed to be discussed with the concerned election officials, adding that the police should act on the basis of facts and the law.
The chief minister’s remarks came amid preparations for the forthcoming urban local body elections in Tripura amid speculation regarding the Opposition Left Front and Congress likely to contest together. However, he did not announce any specific decision on the deployment of central forces during Friday’s interaction.
The inauguration of the new community hall was attended by Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumder, MLA Meena Rani Sarkar
local representatives and other dignitaries.
