8 injured in election violence in Tripura

AGARTALA: At least eight people were injured in three separate incidents of political violence in Tripura in the last 24 hours. The sitting CPM MP and candidate for the East Tripura tribal reserved seat, Jitendra Choudhury, was allegedly attacked by IPFT supporters on Friday afternoon in Taidu in Gomati district, while five BJP workers were severely beaten up in Manpathar in South Tripura on Thursday night.Two BJP supporters were also injured in an attack in Mandai, claimed the saffron party.
The CPM alleged that Chowdhury narrowly escaped an organized attack by IPFT supporters at Taidu under Amarpur subdivision when he was addressing a rally. All of a sudden, a group of IPFT supporters rushed to the stage with heavy logs, which though missed the MP, hit another person. Chowdhury had fled for his life when he saw the mob approaching.
Police resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd, said DGP A K Shukla, adding that a case has been registered and the police have started investigation. He, however, denied reports of injuries. Sources said, IPFT supporters near the rally site were agitated when Chowdhury started criticizing the role of IPFT general secretary and tribal welfare minister Mevar Kumar Jamatia.
BJP spokesperson Ashok Sinha claimed CPM cadres had attacked a vehicle last night with sticks and cutters in Manpathar when five of their leaders were returning from a rally. Three of them somehow managed to escape but two were seriously injured. One of them was identified as Ratan Saha, who is stated to be critical.
This morning, two BJP workers were attacked in Mandai allegedly by CPM men during an election campaign. Both of them have been shifted to the Agartala Government Medical College with serious head injuries. But no one has been arrested, said Sinha.
“These incidents were planned long before CPM started accusing BJP of violence. It was their strategy to garner public sympathy. They cannot forget their 25 years of misrule and bloodshed,” he said.
On the other hand, Pradesh Congress Committee filed a complaint with the election commission expressing grave concern over the deteriorating law and order in the state and increased attacks on Congress party workers, supporters and candidate.
The PCC also accused chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb of intimidating the opposition through his widely publicized speeches. PCC president Pradyot Kishore Debbarman said the chief minister is trying to create communal tension before the election.
“We requested the CEO to verify the CM’s speeches, which go against national integrity. The CM must be booked under sedition charges and jailed for the period of the election. Amity between tribals and non-tribals will be breached at any point of time,” alleged PCC vice president Pijush Biswas at a press conference.