Tripura: CPI(M) alleges 668 incidents of violence since March 2, blames BJP

The Communist Party of India-Marxist CPI(M) on Sunday, March 5, claimed that since the announcement of the February 16 Assembly election results on March 2, which indicated that the BJP secured a majority, over 668 incidents of violence have taken place in Tripura. Blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- which bagged 32 of the 60 Assembly seats in the polls, thereby returning to power for its second term in the north-eastern state -- the CPI(M) said that at least three persons were killed while over 100 were injured in the episodes of violence. Many properties and houses were destroyed and damaged during the violence, the CPI-M claimed.

CPI(M)'s Tripura secretary Jitendra Chowdhury, accompanied by former Minister Tapan Chakraborty, and Left Front Convener Narayan Kar on Sunday, met the Chief Secretary JK Sinha, and appraised him about the prevailing "violent situation" in Tripura. "In view of the series of attacks since March 2, thousands of people, including women and children, fled from their homes. They took shelter in the jungle and outside the state," Chowdhury, a CPI(M) Central Committee Member, told the media. He said that the "BJP goons and party workers attacked people, burning down their houses and properties". "Police remained silent spectators and refused to register FIRs. The Chief Secretary, quoting the Director General of Police, said that 238 people were arrested in connection with the violent incidents. Actually, these 238 people were detained for a while and after some time, were let off," the Left leader said.

He said that in the February 16 assembly polls, over 61% of people did not cast their votes in favour of the BJP, adding that the saffron party's 11% vote share declined, compared to the 2018 Assembly poll outcome. The CPI(M) leader said that a large number of vehicles, shops, business establishments, houses, rubber gardens, fish ponds and other properties belonging to opposition party supporters have been burnt down or destroyed during the past four days. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manik Saha, accompanied by the police chief Amitabh Ranjan, visited the Sepahijala and Khowai districts. The police officers and the administration have been instructed to take strict action against the lawbreakers.