Tripura violence: SC seeks DGP, home secretary's statement

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Tripura DGP and home secretary to submit their statement on the arrangements put in place to ensure free and fair municipal elections in the violence-hit state.
The Supreme Court's direction comes on the final day of campaigning for the elections, which will be held on November 25.
The court also asked the state government to consider deployment of additional forces for the municipal election.
It further asked the BJP government to brief whether one of its MLAs made inflammatory statement in the presence of CM Biplab Deb as alleged by the Trinamool Congress.
It was hearing the plea by TMC seeking contempt action against the Tripura government and others for failing to curtail violent incidents against opposition parties in the run up to the upcoming local body polls.
TMC had alleged that its leaders were being attacked and not allowed to campaign for the elections.
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and A S Bopanna directed the state to brief the court by afternoon on how to ensure free and fair elections and prevent untoward incidents until the results are declared.
On November 11, the top court had directed the Tripura government to ensure that no political party including TMC, in the fray for local body polls of the state, is prevented from pursuing electoral rights in accordance with law and from campaigning in a peaceful and orderly manner.
The local body election process commenced on October 22 after the notification and polling will take place on November 25. Polling for a municipal corporation, thirteen Municipal Councils and six Nagar Panchayats in the Tripura will be held on November 25.
(With inputs from agencies)