BJP, IPFT clash again in Jampuijala

AGARTALA: Amid escalating violence between workers from ruling allies BJP and IPFT at Jampuijala, the imposition of prohibitory orders on the subdivision was extended on Friday.
Three BJP workers - identified as Purna Kumar Jamatia, Mangal Mohan Jamatia and Paramdayal Jamatia - sustained serious injuries in an attack, allegedly by IPFT workers, on Wednesday night at the Jampuijala Market, police said.Houses of two BJP workers and an IPFT leader were set ablaze on Thursday.
As violence spiralled out of control, the sub-divisional magistrate of Jampuijala, Sanjit Debbarma, imposed prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC on the entire subdivision for 36 hours on Thursday, which was extended again on Friday. Movement of people to and from Jampuijala has been restricted. More forces have been deployed. Cases of violence have also been reported from Khowai, Gandacherra and Gomati districts.
A long-standing cause of animosity between workers of the two parties at Jampuijala has been the appointment of Birendra Debbrama, BJP legislator from Golaghati, as the Block Advisory Committee chairperson, replacing an IPFT leader - a move that IPFT leaders at the local level could not get behind. The immediate catalyst, however, was a BJP event on Wednesday where an altercation between party workers soon turned violent.
For over a year, Jampuijala, the nodal point of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, in West Tripura has seen sporadic clashes between workers from the ruling allies.
There are two assembly segments in Jampuijala, one represented by BJP and the other by IPFT.
While IPFT workers frequently accused BJP workers of strong-arming them to levy "taxes", BJP workers say IPFT supporters often turn violent when things don't go their way.