Tripura clash: 9 BJP workers injured in alleged TMP attack

Around nine Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers were injured on Sunday after the workers of Tipra Motha Party (TMP) allegedly attacked the BJP members.

The workers have assembled at Taksapara village in Khowai district to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ Programme.

A police officer said that around 30 BJP functionaries were were there to listen

Mann Ki Baat Programme was going on, a large number of TMP workers attacked the gathering injuring nine BJP functionaries with two of them seriously. Local people took the injured to the Khowai district hospital,” the official said.

Police officer said that several bikes and two cars belonging to the BJP functionaries were damaged. A huge contingent of security forces led by senior police officials deployed in the tension ridden areas.

BJP Mandal President Jayanta Debbarma said that when the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme was underway around 100 unruly youths of the TMP attacked the party gathering.
“The attackers vandalised my vehicle too and also attacked the owner of the house where the Mann-Ki-Baat programme was organised. They also vandalised many bikes and several other vehicles,” Jayanta Debbarma told the media.

Bipin Debbarma, state BJP’s General Secretary, said that a delegation of BJP leaders from Agartala rushed to Khowai district.

“Chief Minister Manik Saha and state BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee talked with the TMP leaders and discussed the unexpected incident,” Bipin Debabrma told the media.

Asharambari Assembly Constituency is represented by senior TMP leader and Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma.

According to Bipin Debbarma, the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, spoke with Minister Animesh Debbarma over the incident.

The attackers used lathi, ‘dao’ (a sharp-edged weapon) and other locally made sticks to attack the BJP functionaries and members, Bipin Debbarma said, and demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the attackers.

TMP is an ally of ruling BJP in the state.