Parliamentary Delegation Meant to Probe Post-Poll Violence Attacked in Tripura

Kolkata: A high-level Parliamentary delegation, which had come to Tripura to probe the deteriorating law and order condition for the past week after the Assembly election results, was attacked on Friday at Nehal Nagar in the Vishalgarh Assembly segment.

The team could save their lives as they were forced to leave the area where they had gone to see the condition of a house of Left activists allegedly vandalised by members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. 

On Saturday, the team of parliamentarians visited the Governor’s house and apprised him of the situation. They also met with reporters and expressed grave concern about the events in Tripura, where they said the police and administration are turning a blind eye to the cases of attacks being rained on the Left and Congress activists.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condemned the attack on the fact-finding teams of opposition MPs and MLAs in Tripura and alleged that “Sangh Parivar goons” were behind the “henious” act.

In a tweet last night, the Left leader said the incident highlights the need for the law and order situation to be restored in the north-eastern state.

“The heinous attack by Sangh Parivar goons on the fact-finding team of opposition MPs visiting Tripura is highly condemnable. It highlights the need for law and order to be restored in the state. Democratic forces should unite to defeat this reign of terror in Tripura,” Vijayan said.

A fact-finding team of MPs and MLAs from the Left parties and the Congress, which arrived to look into the post-poll violence in Tripura, was attacked in the Sepahijala district on Friday.

None of the eight-member team was injured in the attack, police said.

During their visit, sloganeering was reported and their vehicles were attacked by unknown miscreants.

The police escort team responded quickly and rescued members of the delegation safely, Tripura police added.

Speaking to NewsClick, MP Bikashranjan Bhattacharya said that the condition of law and order in Tripura is in the worst state. “In place after place, we witnessed the carnage of the highest order inflicting terror. There is no sign of de-escalation of violence. These people are giving ‘jai shri Ram’ slogans and burning the houses of the poor Left activists. They are also imposing fines of Rs 70,000 to 80,000 and are threatening the left activists to pay the hefty amount, or otherwise, their houses will be gutted in fire,” he alleged while speaking with NewsClick. 

Bikashranjan Bhattacharya, advocate and Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal, is leading the delegation of MPs from the Congress, CPI(M) and CPI to Tripura to assess the situation. 

Houses of Left Activists, Leaders Attacked

Soma Shil Roy, a Left activist with ground-level popularity, defeated the BJP on her home turf -- Borjola Assembly segment. Apparently, this is why her house was vandalised and petrol bombs were hurled at the building, gutting it completely. Her furniture and other belongings have all burned in the fire. The attackers also allegedly fired four rounds from their firearms towards the house. Roy was in tears while narrating the incident before her gutted house to the central parliamentary team. 

To assess the situation in Tripura, the opposition MPs divided themselves into three teams and went to different places in the state. Led by Bhattacharya, one of the delegations comprised Kerala MP AA Rahim (CPIM), Chhattisgarh MP Ranjita Ranjan (Congress) and others. Another team was led by CPI(M) MP from Kerala, Elmaram Karim.

The CPI(M), currently in opposition in Tripura, estimated over 1,200 instances of attacks in the state in the last few days, and the number crossed the 1500 mark on Saturday. A list of the attacks has also been handed over to the DG of Tripura police.

In Khowai, the house of a poor cart driver named Harimohon Ghosh was allegedly attacked by BJP hooligans. The attackers burnt the cowshed, killing two cows alive. In some other places, the houses of daily wage earners were burnt. The asbestos roofing of houses was reportedly damaged by sharp weapons in many places. During the attacks, the family members often rushed to forests to save their lives.

After retaining power in the state with a slim margin, the BJP in Tripura has allegedly started this attack against the Left activists. Even the houses of prominent journalists have been attacked and a dreadful condition persists in the state. In view of the grim situation, Section 144 has been imposed by the district magistrate of West Tripura district. About hundreds of Left activists have been physically attacked in the state in the last 24 hours, according to the CPI(M).

In Agartata’s Badharghat area, the house of Shyamal Roy, the local party secretary of CPI(M) was attacked. At Sripally in Agartala, the house of veteran journalist Samir Dhar came under attack. In the same Sripally area, the houses of CPI(M) activists Raju Deb, Prashanta Deb Ray, Dipak Ghosh and others were also rampaged.

Violence was also reported from Kumar Ghat Division’s Pecharthol, Dudhpur and Dasghari regions. In Dudhpur, two CPI(M) activists, Bhanu Sarkar and Sebak Dutta, were physically attacked.

In Jirania Bazaar area’s Chittaranjan Pally, school teacher Rana Chakraborty’s house was attacked by miscreants, and his motorcycle was vandalised; even the door and window panes of his house came under attack by the miscreants. The house of CPI(M) Krishna Nagar area committee secretary Ranjan das was vandalised. In Majlishpur, Basu Debnath and Haradhan Debnath’s homes were also attacked.

In Bishalgarh’s Charilam area, several houses of Left activists came under attack, allegedly led by BJP activists. About 15 to 16 homes were vandalised, and the house of Sanjay Mullick was torched. The arms of a government employee were broken by miscreants and he was not allowed to go to the hospital for treatment.

News of arson and violence has come from the Udaipur division as well. In Bagma area, the shop of DYFI state committee member Bikram Ghosh was put aflame. In the middle Rajarbhag area, CPI(M) leader Rakhal Mondal’s house was wrecked.

In Garji area, the house of a scribe, who works for the local newspaper Protibadi Kolom, was attacked, and his rubber plantation was fully burned.

Such incidents have been reported from Khowai area as well after the BJP's defeat in the Assembly segment. In Singichara, Lalchara, North Durganagar, Sonatola, Ganaki, Paharmura, and Ajgartila area, violence has been continuing.

In Noagao, a CPI(M) activist was hacked with machetes and is presently admitted to a hospital in a serious condition.

In Jubaraj Nagar, the rubber plantation of newly elected CPI(M) MLA Shailendra Nath was set on fire.

In Dharma Nagar area, many houses belonging to opposition CPI(M) activists were looted and vandalised. In the Shantir Bazaar area, many shops, establishments and houses of opposition party activists have been damaged. In Sonamur, Dhanpur, Pratapgarh and Kamalpur, similar incidents of violence have been reported.