Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday confirmed that security men fired at protesters as the last resort to tackle violence at Madhav Bari near here on Tuesday.
His statement at a press conference came after the police maintained silence on the incident that occurred during the 12-hour strike against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill called by the North East Students Organisation (NESO).
In all, 11 persons were wounded, including some by bullets.
“The security forces were compelled to open fire, following all precautions, after protesters started burning shops, and the situation went out of control. Three persons sustained bullet injuries and all of them are out of danger,” said Mr. Deb, who also holds the Home portfolio.
He announced a magisterial probe into the violence and said his government would not allow law and order to break down.
After his announcement, the government extended the suspension of Internet and cellular phone services for another 48 hours. The services have been shut since Tuesday evening.
The tribal-based parties have demanded a judicial probe into the violence. The Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura, the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura and the Twipra Students Federation have condemned the firing. What is significant is the condemnation by the IPFT, an ally of the BJP. It said a judicial probe by a High Court judge would bring out the truth.