CPI (M), Congress delegations stopped from visiting violence-hit Gandacherra

The opposition delegation of CPI (M) and Congress on Monday stopped from visiting violence affected Gandacherra subdivision of Dhalai district by district administration and a large number of security forces where violence between two communities claimed a life and over 300 villagers were forced took shelter in the relief camps .

The CPI(M) delegation was led by Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, the Congress team was headed by its state president Asish Kumar Saha and MLA Sudip Roy Barman and both teams were stopped to enter Gandacherra subdivision.

Over 300 villagers, who took shelter in the relief camps after the large-scale arson, vandalisation, looting and attacks in mixed populated Gandacherra ((Ganda Twisa) areas in Tripura’s Dhalai District on July 12 and 13, which has now returned to normalcy.

Officials and local people said that over 40 houses, more than 30 shops, huge number of properties, vehicles and two-wheelers were either burnt down or severely damaged by the attackers in Ganda Twisa on July 12 after Parameshwar Reang (20), a tribal student, succumbed to his injuries after being assaulted by some miscreants on July 7.

Till today, some affected family members are now staying at the Gandatwisa Higher Secondary School while trade and business are severely affected in the areas for the past few days.

The government has announced to provide compensation to the affected families and businessmen.

The CPI(M) delegation was stopped near Amarpur in Gomati district on the ground that prohibitory orders were in place in Gandacherra.

While, after returning back to Agartala, the opposition CPI(M) delegation led by LoP Jitendra Chaudhury addressing a press conference at party headquarters in Agartala  said that after speaking with DM of Dhalai district and as per his suggestions, the CPI(M) team  were on the way to Gandacherra to meet the people who are living in a temporary relief  camps following the violence but the police stopped. T

“The police or administration can't stop us from meeting the violence-hit people citing prohibitory orders," said Chaudhury and claimed that it was a conspiracy of the state government to curtail fundamental rights of opposition and it has also attacked the citizen rights.

He said that he spoke to the district magistrate on Sunday and was given permission to visit the area, but the large number of security forces over the instruction of DGP obstructed them at Dangabari area before their entry to Gandacherra.

He asked why are the police restraining them from visiting Gandacherra if the situation is normal? Police can't curtail the liberty of a person and they will raise the issue at the appropriate level. The CPI (M) team led by Jitendra Chaudhury along with party leaders Naresh Jamatia, Sudhan Das, three MLAs including Sudhir Sarkar, Ramu Das and Nayan Sarkar were returned back to Agartala and addressed the press conference.

The Congress delegation was stopped near Kalajari in Gomati district on the same ground. After a brief altercation with senior police officials, senior leader and MLA Sudip Roy Barman speaking wth media persons alleged that Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and a government team headed by Social Welfare Minister Tinku Roy were allowed to meet the affected families, then why they are not allowed? The police and administration can't adopt a partisan attitude, said Sudip Roy Barman.

Meanwhile, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM)of  Gandacherra, Chandrajoy Reang said that the political delegations were denied entry to Gandatwisa because of prohibitory orders. After 10 days of hard work, the administration has brought the situation under control and now they will not take the  chance to again escalate the tension among communities.