Agartala: Tension simmered in Khumulwng, headquarters of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, prompting police to deploy additional forces across vulnerable areas on Thursday.
A senior police official said the situation had stabilised and security personnel were stationed in adequate numbers to prevent any further flare-ups.
The Khumulwng–Takarjala belt in West Tripura district has witnessed unrest for the past two days, shortly after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party organised a joining programme attended by Chief Minister Manik Saha. DIG (Northern Range) Rati Ranjan Debnath rushed to Khumulwng to supervise the tightened security arrangements, while patrolling was intensified in all sensitive areas.
Tension escalated after the residence of BJP leader Sahid Debbarma came under attack on Thursday evening. A group of masked miscreants allegedly broke into the house and vandalised household items, including a television and refrigerator. His wife said she pleaded with the attackers, but her appeals went unheeded. Debbarma was not at home at the time of the incident, local sources said.
A BJP worker injured during a scuffle in Takarjala on Wednesday is undergoing treatment at GB Pant Hospital. BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee visited the hospital to inquire about his condition, accompanied by state general secretary Bipin Debbarma.
Repeated attempts to reach BJP leaders for comment on the prevailing tension remained unsuccessful.
Tipra Motha MLA from Takarjala constituency Biswajit Kalai blamed the BJP for triggering the unrest following its joining event. He alleged that three Tipra Motha workers were assaulted near a BJP office and that his party’s office in Jirania Khala was set ablaze early Thursday.
Kalai expressed dissatisfaction over the police response, claiming that the action promised by authorities had not materialised. He urged immediate steps to restore peace and ensure impartial handling of the situation.
