Group clash in Tripura village, Sec 144 imposed, 3 arrested

Agartala: At least six people were injured following a clash between two groups over a car parking issue on Wednesday evening in Baidyardighi village of Bishalgarh sub-division, about 25 km from state capital Agartala, in Tripura.

Speaking with EastMojo, Tanu Miah, treasurer of a local mosque in the market, said, “We were inside the masjid and performing our daily namaz. When we heard some noise outside, we left the place after prayer. About 30 minutes later, a mob went violent and started vandalising shops, vehicles and our mosque.

He also said that they didn’t have any idea why the mob had attacked suddenly on their mosque, while the clash had erupted between two groups of BJP leaders.

“We were no way involved in any alteration or a clash with anyone. But they have vandalised our masjid without any reason. We never saw such a thing happening in this village. We all live together here. It was done by a group of miscreants who belong to the Hindu community,” he alleged.

“We have voted BJP to power and that is why we have faced this situation today. What was the fault of our masjid. Why it was vandalised?” Miah regretted.

Jhulan Das, a 55-year-old woman from the area, said the CRPF jawans forcefully entered her residence and attacked her following a clash between two groups in the market late on Wednesday evening.

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A 35-year-old local, Biswajit Debnath, added that on Wednesday night, a group of CRPF jawans entered her residence and started hitting her shops. They also vandalised the windshield of her vehicle.

“They (CRPF) tried to enter my house. We have no idea what has happened. We were scared of seeing a clash erupt in our village. We were inside our house. We also heard the sound of firing taking place in the market. Some women were also beaten up by the jawans,” Debnath alleged.

Another eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Mohammad Saheb, who is a chairman of Bishalghar subdivision of the Wakf Board, had a heated altercation with a group of people following a car parking issue in the market on Wednesday evening.

“A group of BJP and RSS supporters started abusing Mohammad Saheb saying Muslims have to quit this country and Muslims should be killed. When Saheb was attacked, a clash between two groups erupted in the area,” the eyewitness said.

He also said that around 150 people from Bishalghar and Kasba entered the village and set on fire shops and vehicles parked in the markets. They also attacked the mosque while chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’, which was not expected, he alleged.

The people in the area have also criticised the role of police in controlling the situation. The incident took place around 8 pm in the evening at the Baidyardighi market, where a number of vehicles, including a truck and motorbikes were gutted by the angry mob, while a mosque was also attacked by the miscreants.

Speaking with EastMojo, Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Subrata Chakraborty said the incident erupted on personal issues but later, an attempt was made to give communal colour to the entire issue.

“The police force was deployed in the market and soon, the people who were present in the market were dispatched. The administration had also imposed section 144 of CRPC in the area following the clash between the two groups. Three persons were arrested in this connection. Six persons have been referred to GBP hospital with injuries,” Chakraborty said.