Tripura: Miscreants take to hooliganism at Agartala poll station

Agartala: Incidents of hooliganism have reportedly come to light during polling at Netaji Chowmuhani area of Agartala in Tripura on Thursday.

As per reports, supporters belonging to the Congress and CPI-M were allegedly thrown out of the queue in front of a polling station by unknown miscreants. Polling agents were also allegedly forced out of the polling booths.

Subal Bhowmick, Congress’ candidate for the West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency, said: “I’ve never seen such hooliganism before. I think the government is strange for not letting people to vote. This is very unfortunate on our democracy. The constitution of our country protects everyone… yet a particular community is not allowed to exercise their franchise.”

“Law and order has been violated, roads were blocked. Polling agents are forced out of polling stations,” Bhowmick added.

A CPI-M supporter added: “I’ve been a CPI(M) supporter for more than 30 years and I’ve never seen an incident like this. I identify the ones behind the vandalism… they all are BJP supporters. They first attacked the CPI(M) booth office and then the Congress’.”

“When we tried to stop them, they said they’ll shoot us. The incident happened almost two hours ago and the police came almost after an hour,” the supporter added.

Meanwhile, state Congress president Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarman said: “Regarding all incidents on poll violence… this shows that the administration is under constant fear that if people exercise their ballots right, then the administration will be in grave danger. That is the reason they are resorting to muscle power.”

Debbarman appealed to all that voting is your right… irrespective of whoever you want to vote. “Do not fear. Just go out and exercise your rights,” he added.