Tripura: 24-hour strike called by IPFT underway in tribal council areas

Agartala: Supporters of the ruling ally in Tripura — Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) — are observing a 24-hour strike in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) area on Saturday.

The strike was called in protest against the attack carried out on two party MLAs, including IPFT supremo and revenue minister NC Debbarma, in his constituency on May 19.

It was alleged that supporters of TIPRA in the Jampuijala area 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.

Speaking with reporters, supporters of IPFT said that they had to undertake a 24-hour sit-in strike on Saturday in protest against the attack carried out on the IPFT leaders.

“We have appealed to the people to come forward against the barbaric attack on the leaders. Due to the pandemic and outbreak of novel coronavirus we have decided to not gather in large numbers and decided to not do ant picketing,” the supporters said.

Also read: Tripura tribal council demands more doctors, medical equipment to fight COVID-19

He also said that the senior indigenous leader was attacked by miscreants which is not accepted by the people, adding, “In protest of the attack on the IPFT leaders the strike is being observed in 26 divisions of the ADC,” he added.

Additional superintendent of police Amitabha Pal said that adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure that the situation remains normal.

“The police and TSR jawans are deployed across the ADC areas. The goods and transport vehicles are moving as usual and so far no untoward incident has been reported,” Pal said.

Meanwhile, reacting to the bandh called by the ruling ally, chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb said that everything is already closed and he does not want to do any politics in this regard.

“My party, (BJP) does not believe in the culture of Bandh because that amounts to loss of both the public and government. I am in the government as the chief minister and IPFT is our alliance partner. We work together in consultation with the aim to develop the state,” Deb said.