Tripura: After polls announcement, BJP vs Cong started violence

Agartala: Tension escalated after clashes between Congress and BJP workers during a bike rally in Tripura’s Majlispur constituency on Thursday.The incident took place shortly after the announcement of the polling date for the 60-member Tripura state assembly.
The Congress has claimed that 15 party workers and workers, including AICC general secretary and Tripura in-charge Ajoy Kumar, were injured when a group of “BJP-backed goons” allegedly attacked them during a rally.
The BJP, however, claimed that a party office belonging to the ruling camp was vandalized by Congress supporters, leading to a violent encounter.

Many other workers belonging to both the parties were also injured during the clash.
Speaking on the matter, West Tripura district Superintendent of Police Shankar Debnath said, “Both sides have their own version of the incident and have filed complaints against each other. We are in the process of registering both cases.”

A large number of security forces have been deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident. Soon after the incident, security forces took control of the area to restore normalcy,” Debnath told to Media.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Burman blamed ICA minister and Majlispur MLA Sushanta Chowdhary for the attacks and alleged that they had instigated the violence. Barman also advised the ruling party to start counting its days in power.
“The local MLA, who is also a member of the state cabinet, was present when the Bharatiya Janata Party goons attacked our senior leaders. Our workers were pelted with stones at four separate locations during the motorcycle rally. The local MLA “There was also a verbal spat with Congress workers from LA, senior TPCC leader Ashish Saha and our national in-charge Ajoy Kumar. Their videos using unparliamentary language are going viral on social media platforms.” Berman said.

According to Burman, while the bike rally was passing through the Majlispur area in Tripura, it was attacked in the Sachindra Lal Colony area when BJP-backed miscreants started pelting stones and bricks on the Congress workers.
“Instead of indulging in violence, the Congress workers went ahead but the rally was stopped by the local MLA in Mohanpur area and stone pelting suddenly started from the roofs of buildings on both sides of the road. Rani Bazar Town Hall area and Briddhanagar. “Once again the rally was attacked. More than 20 party workers have been injured, while 15 of them have been hospitalised,” Barman said.
The senior Congress leader termed the attack as a direct challenge to the ECI’s efforts to conduct free and fair elections. He said, “I don’t know how the ECI will react, but this incident has once again proved that the BJP does not care about the ECI’s assurances. I will look into the matter. I am also giving notice to the police administration.
Appealing to CPI-M and Congress workers to come together to counter such attacks, the Congress leader said, “I am making a clarion call to CPI-M and Congress workers that They should jointly organize events and give a blunt reply to the BJP. In a language they understand.”
On the other hand, Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhary alleged that the BJP’s SM Colony party office was vandalized by motorcycle-borne Congress workers.

“First of all, they didn’t have any police permission to hold the rally. Suddenly Congress workers on bikes reached the party office and vandalized. I have no problem if they organize a party meeting or street march here. If they are willing to confront us politically, they would have taken the right path instead of indulging in such criminal offences,” said Chowdhury.

The minister also claimed that two notorious criminals, identified as Keshab Sarkar and Manoranjan Debnath, were present at the Congress rally. The people of Majlispur will answer them with their mouths. Congress and CPI-M parties have recently started their joint venture of politics and what they can do is already showing through such activities.

He also alleged that Congress and CPIM workers are trying to spread unrest in the area by bringing in people from outside. “A police complaint has been lodged against all of them,” he added.
Chief Electoral Officer Kiran Gitte said, “Had the security forces not acted quickly, the incident would have been blown out of proportion.” We are trying our best to prevent any kind of violence, which is detrimental to the peaceful conduct of the elections.

Congress CWC member Dr Ajoy Kumar and other party workers are now undergoing treatment at GBP Hospital.
Speaking to the media, Kumar denied any involvement of the Congress party in the attacks and accused the minister of masterminding the organized attack. Apart from senior Congress leaders, CPIM state secretary Jitendra Chowdhary and CPIM state committee member Pabitra Kar visited Dr. Kumar at GB Hospital.
CPI-M state secretary Jitendra Chowdhary said, “This incident speaks of fear in the BJP. Fearing defeat, BJP resorted to violence.

According to the Congress, the party has mentioned the minister’s name in the FIR.