Tripura: Section 144 imposed in Bishalgarh after Congress-BJP clash

Agartala: Tension gripped Bishalgarh area under Tripura’s Sepahijala district, following which a series of political clashes broke out between the opposition Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses said that activists of both parties resorted to physical confrontation, stone pelting and use of firearms after a dispute over flag hoisting.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Bishalgarh has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC to prevent the tension from escalating further. CRPF, TSR and police forces were deployed across the area to defuse the tension.

Political workers of both parties were injured during the riots. A Congress worker identified as Sikandar Ali sustained head injuries and was referred to GB Pant Hospital Agartala for treatment.

Local sources said the Congress party office was to be re-opened in Roth Khala area of ​​Sepahijala on Saturday.

Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Sameer Ranjan Burman was to inaugurate the party office. Ahead of the inauguration, Congress workers were hoisting party flags, banners and festoons to mark the occasion.

On the other hand, BJP workers were participating in a similar exercise for an upcoming event. BJP supporters alleged that Congress workers tried to take down their flags and vandalized the saffron party’s decorations. Congress workers claimed their flags while BJP supporters uprooted party flags and smashed their banners.

When supporters of both the parties gathered in the market area, they got involved in a heated argument which later turned into a full-blown physical fight, fistfights and arson. In no time, the police reached the spot and tried to defuse the simmering situation.

Congress workers then blocked the road on the Agartala-Subroom National Highway, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the alleged unprovoked attacks on them.

Congress leaders claimed that they were attacked by BJP mandal president Sushanta Deb and his close associates. The situation remained calm for a while, but workers from both parties continued to gather in the market area.

Soon, the situation became unstable again, until the local market was deserted and traders closed their shops. After a gap of few hours, the second round of clashes started.

The renovated Congress office was gutted. Bombs were hurled and, according to eyewitnesses, blank shots were also fired at Congress workers.