More Forces Deployed at Tripura Town After CPI(M) Workers, Cops Injured in Alleged BJP Attack

The government deployed more police forces at Teliamura in Tripura’s Khowai district after BJP supporters clashed with CPI(M) activists on Saturday, leaving at least 10 people injured, the Times of India reported.

Taking suo moto cognisance, the police have registered a case and started investigation after at least ten people including two police personnel were injured. The police have requested the leaders of both parties to maintain peace.

On Saturday night, leaders and supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]  had gathered at Karoilong, which is around 30 km from the state capital Agartala, for a meeting of the party’s youth wing DYFI. While the meeting was going on, a group of people suddenly attacked the CPI(M) activists. The Left activists resisted the attack, leading to a clash between the two sides, according to Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Teliamura, Prasun Tripura, who spoke to The Hindu.

The CPI(M) said that the attackers were BJP cadres who threw stones at their gathering and attacked them with sticks.

The two policemen who were deployed to provide security to the CPI(M) rally were injured in the clash, the SDPO informed.

As soon as the news of the clash came, a contingent of police and Tripura State Rifle led by the SDPO Prasun Tripura rushed to the location and brought the situation under control.

The injured persons including the two cops were taken to Teliamura hospital. Afterwards, three injured CPI(M) activists were referred to the GBP hospital in Agartala for better treatment, the SDPO told the Times of India. CPI(M) state committee member Hemanta Kumar Jamatia were among those injured.

The chief whip of the BJP in the State Assembly, Kalyani Roy, who represents Teliamura Assembly constituency, said to the media that it was the CPI(M) supporters who first attacked the BJP workers during a Yuva Morcha rally. He claimed that five to six BJP workers were also injured in the attack.

However, according to the Times of India, CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury denied the BJP’s claims saying the police personnel present at the spot knew who were attackers and who were victims. He claimed that Roy twisted the story to protect the assailants and said that the BJP was resorting to violence as it has lost hope for upcoming Assembly elections.