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Agartala, Oct 24 (IANS) Tension prevailed in Kamalpur sub-division of Tripura’s Dhalai district on Friday when a section of Tiprasa Civil Society (TCS) activists attacked, torched and looted shops during the 24-hour statewide strike on Thursday evening, injuring over 12 people, including officials and traders. The officers provided this information.
A police officer said a large contingent of security forces, including Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), have been deployed and senior officials are closely monitoring the situation.
To prevent the matter from progressing further, Dhalai District Magistrate and Collector Vivek HB imposed indefinite prohibitory orders within Kamalpur sub-division on Thursday night.
Issuing the order under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS) to prevent threat to human life, public property and peace, the DM’s order prohibited assembly of more than four persons, carrying or using weapons or dangerous materials, giving provocative speeches, raising slogans or distributing pamphlets inciting hatred.
It also prohibited the use of rooftops or premises for stone pelting during riots and banned entry and movement of vehicles in prohibited areas.
Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that strict action will be taken against the culprits of Thursday’s violence in Kamalpur subdivision.
Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, visited the government-run Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital here to inquire about the health condition of the injured people.
Of the 12 people injured in Thursday’s violence, three were shifted to Agartala Medical College and Hospital, while the rest are undergoing treatment at Kamalpur Bimal Sinha Memorial Hospital.
The injured include Salema Block Development Officer (BDO) Abhijit Majumdar, Engineer Animesh Saha, Kamalpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Samudra Debbarma and businessman Biplab Deb.
Saying that he kept an eye on the entire situation on Thursday night, the Chief Minister said that the attackers, with the intention of killing people, used heavy bamboo sticks, iron rods and slingshots to attack local traders and officials at Santirbazar in Kamalpur sub-division.
Saha told the media at the hospital, “The attackers also looted many items from Santirbazar market and snatched gold chains from women. In the name of the movement, all these are dishonorable acts. I have directed the police to take strict action. We will not come under any pressure. You will soon see what action is being taken against the criminals.”
State BJP president Rajib Bhattacharya also visited the hospital and inquired about the health condition of the injured people.
CPI(M) Tripura state secretary and leader of opposition Jitendra Chaudhary, senior-most minister Ratan Lal Nath, former chief minister and BJP Lok Sabha member Biplab Kumar Deb, Congress leader and former minister Sudip Roy Barman and several other political leaders strongly condemned Thursday’s violence.
Tiprasa Civil Society (TCS), an ally of ruling BJP and affiliated to Tipra Motha Party (TMP), led by TMP MLA Ranjit Debbarma observed a 24-hour bandh across Tripura on Thursday in support of their eight-point demands including deportation of illegal immigrants.
According to the police, to enforce the bandh, protesters carrying the national flag on Thursday staged sit-ins at over 52 major locations and highways across the state and at some places along the railway tracks in West Tripura and Khowai districts.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on Thursday canceled, short-terminated or controlled nine trains, including four express trains, in Tripura due to blockade of railway tracks at several points by TCS workers.
NFR chief public relations officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said four express trains – Sabroom (Tripura)-Sealdah Kanchenjunga Express, Charlapalli (Hyderabad)-Agartala Express, Silchar-Agartala Express, and Agartala-Silchar Express along with five other local trains were short-terminated, derailed or canceled on Thursday.
He said bandh supporters and protesters have blocked railway tracks at several places in Tripura since Thursday morning, forcing the NFR to take these steps. Thousands of passengers were left stranded in difficult conditions due to sudden cancellation and short-termination of many important express and local trains.
–IANS
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