Agartala, November 3: Amid the attack on three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel by a group of locals allegedly linked to smuggling activities at Ashabari village in Tripura’s Sepahijala district, the CPM on Tuesday accused the ruling BJP of providing political patronage to smugglers and anti-social elements, alleging that such protection has emboldened criminals to target security forces.
Opposition leader and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury alleged that Monday’s incident under Kalamchoura police station in Sonamura subdivision was not an isolated occurrence, claiming that attacks on BSF personnel and police had become recurrent in the border areas, particularly in Sonamura.
He alleged that a section of BJP supporters and local leaders, including the area’s MLA, were involved in providing protection to people engaged in smuggling and other illegal activities. According to him, police investigations often lose momentum when ruling party workers are found implicated.
“Out of ten people booked in such cases, nine or sometimes all ten are BJP supporters,” Chaudhury alleged, accusing the ruling establishment of interfering with investigations.
Targeting Chief Minister Manik Saha, the CPM leader said that although the CM publicly condemns such incidents and promises stringent action through social media, the action rarely reaches its logical conclusion when ruling party supporters are involved. He accused Saha of allowing political considerations to undermine law enforcement and the authority of uniformed forces.
The attack at Ashabari took place after BSF personnel allegedly detained a suspected smuggler. A group of people subsequently assaulted the personnel and reportedly snatch a firearms. Eight persons have been arrested in connection with the incident so far as search operations on for several others.
Saha had condemned the assault on social media and directed the authorities to take stringent action against those involved.
Chaudhury’s allegations have brought the issue of alleged political protection to smuggling networks back into the political spotlight, particularly in the sensitive India-Bangladesh border belt, where security personnel have repeatedly faced resistance during anti-smuggling operations.
At least two security personnel, including a BSF Assistant Commandant and a state police officer, have been killed in suspected smugglers’ attacks in Sonamura subdivision over the past eight years.
The Monday’s incidents underscore growing security concerns along Tripura’s 856-km international border with Bangladesh, which surrounds the state on three sides, amid persistent threats of drug and arms smuggling and human trafficking. More than 97 per cent of the international border that the state shares has been fenced though the central government is planning to install pilot smart fencing in Tripura.
