Two senior CPI(M) leaders were attacked by miscreants in two separate
locations in Tripura on Monday, police said. The Left party has alleged
the role of BJP behind these attacks.
While Tripura deputy opposition leader Badal Choudhury was attacked
in South Tripura’s Belonia, former tourism minister and MLA Ratan
Bhowmik was attacked in Gomati district.
“Former tourism minister and MLA Ratan Bhowmik went to visit two
CPI(M) local leaders at Bagma in Gomati district today who were
previously attacked by BJP supporters. A group of 15 BJP backed goons
attacked Bhowmik and others while they were on their way back,” Deputy
Opposition leader Choudhury told a press conference here.
Confirming the incident, Gomati district Additional Superintendent of
Police Dhiman Das Chowdhury said MLA Bhowmik sustained minor injuries
in the incident along with two other associates. They were released from
Tripurasundari district hospital after primary treatment, he informed.
“The incident occurred at 10:30 AM on Monday. MLA Bhowmik has
informed the issue over the phone. It is being investigated,” the
official said.
Choudhury said he along with West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency MP
Shankar Prasad Dutta, MLA Sudhan Das and others were out on a tour in
Belonia when some “BJP backed hooligans” attacked them.
A contingent of police was attached with the leaders during their
visit. However, the attackers tried to attack them through the security
cover.
“We were close to Chottakhala Higher Secondary school in Belonia of
South Tripura when a group of nearly 30 BJP backed goons set up blockade
on our roads. They created obstacles by throwing wooden logs on the
road and attacked us. Three police jawans were injured in the incident
as BJP goons hurled bricks and attacked us,” Badal alleged.
Gomati district Superintendent of Police Jal Singh Meena said that
the police personnel were treated in local hospitals and released after
primary treatment.
Complaints were registered on both incidents and investigation was started, officials said.
Blaming the breakdown of law and order on both incidents, the deputy
opposition leader said that democracy has “disappeared” from Tripura.
Criticising the “attacks” in a statement, former chief minister Manik
Sarkar appealed BJP state president and Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb
to intervene and ensure smooth political functioning of opposition
party workers.
“What kind of rule of law is this where opposition leaders can’t go
to common people and interact with them? I request the Chief Minister
who is also BJP state chief to intervene to stop these disturbances,”
Sarkar said in his statement.