Opposition leader demands impartial prove against custodial death

Amidst statewide public outrage over killing of innocent people, specially custodial torture and death of a villager of Kaladhepa village of Manu Bazar police station under South Tripura district, the leader of opposition (LoP) Jitendra Chaudhury strongly condemned the state sponsored violence and claimed that law and order situation of the state totally collapsed.

Speaking with media persons after visiting the house of victim Badal Tripura on Friday, who was dies allegedly police brutality inside the lock up of Manu Bazar police station on October 13 night, Chaudhury said that “we cannot imagined such heinous brutality by police personnel to a villager and subsequent release of victim man from hospital without proper treatment despite severe wounds.”

The Left leader claimed that after two incidents - the murder of a businessman in Agartala and the death of a tribal youth at his residence after "torture" in police custody in South Tripura,  " the rule of law has completely collapsed in Tripura during the BJP regime. During the past few months many innocent people were lynched by the 'goons' of the ruling BJP while more than three people died due to police torture.”

He said that people of the state get best gift during celebration of Durga Puja and Laxmi Puja by the coalition government, where a trader was murdered amidst huge gathering at the heart of Agartala city and an innocent villager lynched to death by police.

Badal Tripura was taken into custody on October 13 by officers from the Manubazar police station, accused of stealing rubber sheets from a garden, said Chaudhury and added that Badal was “brutally beaten” while in custody and released the next day in critical condition. Despite his deteriorating health, no advanced treatment was provided. Where is the Chief Minister’s Health Yojana project card? Where is the Ayushman card?” questioned Chaudhury highlighting the negligence by police and local hospital authorities.

Chaudhury said that after release from police custody, severally injured Badal Tripura was taken to Manu Bazar rural hospital and from where he was referred to South Tripura district hospital, but surprisingly, the hospital authority released him without any treatment despite he had several deep wounds including his eyes, which reflected gross negligence by hospital. Badal Tripura was referred to GB Hospital by South Tripura district hospital authority, but he was unable to come to GB Hospital in absence of an ambulance.

After days of struggling for his life at his house without any treatment, Badal died on October 17. When protests erupted in front of the police station, demanding justice, local leaders allegedly pressured the demonstrators to stand down. “Why is this happening in Tripura today? Because Amitabh Ranjan, the DGP of Tripura  is merely a pawn of the government. Honest officers are being sidelined, alleged Chaudhury.

Chaudhury said “this is the 3rd in a row, R K Pur, Nutan Bazar and Manu, within the last two and half months. Would ‘Sushason’ (good governance) be awakened?”

Chaudhury demanded a fair investigation and strict punishment for the five policemen arrested in connection with the case.

He also said that people of the state will not tolerate such barbaric incidents and he also appealed to the people to raise their voices against oppression of the government.

He also urged the government to ensure proper education to three minor daughters of victim Badal Tripura and an employment opportunity to his widow.

It may be recalled here that five police personnel, including a Sub-Inspector (SI)  Pranjit Roy,  constable Ranjit Kumar Tripura, three SPO jawans Rengu Mog, Mailasa Mog and Shyamal Das, posted at Manubazar police station under South Tripura district have been arrested after a complaint of torture by the victim’s family.

The official said that on charges of theft two tribal youths -- Badal Tripura (34) and Chiranjit Tripura (35) -- were arrested on October 13 and on the next day they were released on bail.

The family members of Badal Tripura, resident of Kaladhepa tribal village, on October 14 lodged a complaint with the police that he was severely tortured during custody at the Manubazar police station on October 13 and next day he was released on bail without any medical treatment to his serious injuries.

Soon after the death of Badal Tripura on Thursday (October 17), irate locals, including women, staged demonstration in front of the Manubazar police station demanding severe punishment of the police personnel responsible for the “torture” leading to his death.

Hundreds of men and women also put up a road blockade on the Agartala-Sabroom national highway at Manubzar, 130 km from Agartala.