BJP accused of attacking CPI(M) workers and MLA in Tripura

The opposition CPI(M) in Tripura has alleged that 35 of its party workers, including the MLA of Kamalassagar constituency, were attacked in different parts of the Bishalgarh sub-division on Friday.

CPI(M) workers Saturday took out processions in Agartala against the alleged attack on Friday.

The party, in a statement issued on Friday night, alleged that the ruling BJP workers attacked their supporters, activists and leaders in different parts of the Bishalgarh sub-division, including the MLA of Kamalasagar constituency, Narayan Chowdhury.


The ruling BJP said that the CPI(M)'s allegation was false and baseless.

"This is their propaganda model to give false statement to turn false into truth. Nothing such has happened in Bishalgarh," the BJP spokesperson in Tripura, Ashoke Sinha, said on Saturday.

"Our chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb has strongly directed police to be neutral and take appropriate actions against the hoodlums, irrespective of any party affiliations. The allegations are completely false and baseless," he said.

According to the CPI(M)'s statement a meeting was organised at a hall at the party's office in Bishalgarh, to commemorate the November Revolution.

The programme was scheduled at 2 pm. CPI(M) politburo member Manik Sarkar, the former chief minister of Tripura, was the main speaker, it said.

According to the statement, the BJP workers gathered in front of the venue of the meeting since 12 pm on Friday and attacked many CPI(M) workers when they were about to enter the hall to attend the programme.

The BJP workers also threatened them of dire consequences if they entered the hall, the statement added.

The CPI(M) statement also said that MLA Narayan Chowdhury's vehicle was stopped. The MLA and two other party workers were assaulted, it said.

Bijon Dhar, Tripura party unit secretary and central committe member also said that Narayan Chowdhury was attacked.

He also said that Manik Sarkar, who was among those present at the meeting, was not attacked.

He (Sarkar) in fact stayed back at the Bishalgarh party office for about two hours to ensure that the party members and supporters who attended the meeting reached their homes safely.

"A group of miscreants pelted stones at the MLA's vehicle at Rastar Matha in the evening when he was returning home. Then a few activists of CPI(M) accompanying him fled the scene in fear. But no one was injured in the incident. I also went to the residence of the MLA, but he was not at home at that time. I would meet him again," the Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Bishalgarh, Mihir Lal Das, said.

Das denied that CPI(M) workers were not allowed to enter the meeting hall at Bishalgarh on Friday.