Agartala: A day after the chief of Tripura‘s ruling alliance partner Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) and revenue minister Narendra Chandra Debbarma was allegedly attacked by supporters of Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA), another MLA Dhirendra Debbarma faced a similar attack leading to serious injuries here on Thursday.
The police have arrested the main accused, Swarna Kumar Tripura, involved in the incident.
Supporters of TIPRA in the Jampuijala area on Wednesday showed black flags to IPFT supremo NC Debbarma and chanted “go back” slogans. The situation heated up in the presence of TIPRA Motha workers.
However, the police brought the situation under control and no one was attacked. However, on Thursday, IPFT MLA Dhirendra Tripura was seriously injured in an attack.
The Mandai Bazar Assembly constituency MLA was attacked in front of Govinda Community Hall under Belbari RD block.
“I went to Belbari Community Hall around 11 am to take part in the pre-scheduled meeting. But I did not know that TIPRA Motha supporters had already gathered there. The supporters attacked me as soon as I got out of the car. I was punched and slapped by the miscreants with the help of their leader,” the MLA said.
He said that the police arrested Swarna Kumar Tripura in the incident. In addition, the search for other activists/supporters involved in the incident has begun.
“I was treated at Jirania Hospital. The doctors examined me and prescribed the necessary medicines,” he added.
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Meanwhile, TIPRA chairman Pradyot Kishore Deb Barman has taken responsibility for the “actions” of the party workers in the last two days.
He apologised for what happened and said that violence would not be tolerated and those responsible behind the attacks would be expelled from the party.
The TIPRA chief wrote on Facebook, “There will be no more tolerance to goondas! Have suspended the main culprit Sarna Tripura from the party membership and also handed him over to police! He had joined TIPRA Motha just three weeks before elections from IPFT. I want to make an example by ensuring these actions will not be tolerated.”
Reacting to the incident, IPFT general secretary and forest minister Mevar Kumar Jamatia said that in protest of the attack on the IPFT leaders, the party has decided to hold a 24-hour strike in the TTAADC areas from 8 am on May 22 to May 23.
“The perpetrators of the barbaric attack on party president NC Debbarma in Jampuijala should be immediately arrested and severely punished,” Jamatia said.
He also said that in the run-up to and after the TTAADC elections, all victims of violence in the entire ADC area, especially in Khowai, West Tripura and Sepahijala districts, must be given adequate compensation and those involved in violence must be arrested and punished.
“The directive issued by the present ADC authorities on May 10, 2021 to form ADC nominated village committees in each of the 587 villages of the ADC area to serve their political interests is unconstitutional and against the prevailing law in the state. That instruction must be withdrawn,” Jamatia added.
Opposition CPI-M’s state secretariat body through a press statement condemned the attack on revenue minister NC Debbarma and said that he has lodged a complaint against TIPRA, saying he was not allowed to hold a meeting at his constituency and was treated indecently. Debbarma added that he had never seen such disorderly conduct in his 65 years of life.
“Today, TIPRA Matha launched a similar attack on the IPFT MLA in Belbari. The CPI (M) State Secretariat is protesting and condemning the obstruction of the elected representatives from meeting at its own centre and the disorderly conduct,” the press statement read.
The CPI-M also said that what the revenue minister is saying today, the CPI-M and the Left Front have been vindicating the demand for democracy, individual freedom and restoration of the rule of law for the last three years.
The CPI-M state secretariat has demanded that the state government should restore the democratic environment and rule of law.
