In Tripura, the opposition CPI(M) alleged that one of its workers was killed and 12 others, including former finance minister Bhanu Lal Saha, were injured in an attack by supporters of the ruling BJP in Sipahijala district on Wednesday.
The BJP denied the allegation, claiming that the opposition party was trying to create disturbances in the Charilam area and when its supporters tried to oppose it, a clash broke out.
Vishalgarh Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) BB Das said the police quickly brought the situation under control and the exact number of casualties was yet to be ascertained.
Former minister Saha said hundreds of CPI(M) supporters gathered at the party office in Charilam to deputize the Block Development Officer (BDO) with various demands.
“Our leader was addressing a rally in front of the party office before going to the BDO office around 1.30 pm. Suddenly a group of BJP-backed miscreants hurled a bomb at the rally. When our party workers started running, they started attacking us with sticks and iron rods.”
“One of our leaders – Sahid Miya, a resident of Aralia, succumbed to head injuries sustained during treatment at Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital. 12 to 15 supporters of our party were injured in the attack.”
The SDM said that he has sought a report from the police.
Badal Chandra Das, officer-in-charge of Vishalgarh police station, said, “An untoward incident took place in Charilam and some people were injured, but I cannot say officially whether there has been any death or not. The injured have been admitted to a nearby health facility.” Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, MLA from Charilam, said Saha was responsible for the violence ahead of the assembly elections.
“For the past few days, the former minister has been trying to control Charilam by hiring goons from Bishalgarh. Today they again made the same attempt and our workers opposed it, which led to a clash. Historically, it is a peaceful area,” he alleged.
CPI(M) State Secretary Jitendra Chowdhary met the injured party workers at GBP Hospital.
“Our workers and supporters were brutally attacked by BJP goons in the presence of police. Today’s incident is nothing but a true demonstration of what is happening in Tripura in the name of good governance.”
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