Political clash at Khowai, 12 supporters injured

With days are coming to ensuing assembly elections in Tripura, the political clashes among rival supporters of political parties has been increasing day by day across Tripura and its fresh edition after clash among the supporters of ruling BJP and opposition CPI(M), at least 12 supporters of both parties suffered injuries and all of them were hospitalized.

Sources said that on Wednesday afternoon opposition CPI (M) organized a procession in Singhicherra area of Beltali under Khowai police station in support of their five point charter of demands and another rally of BJP workers at the same spot collided face on. As a result, in presence of a large number of security forces led by SDPO (Khowai) Rajib Sutradhar, both supporters engaged in pitch-battle among themselves.

Sources added that hundreds of CPI (M) supporters, when both rallies were faced on , started an attack targeting BJP workers. Some BJP workers also in retaliation have also attacked CPI(M) workers in presence of police forces. As a result 12 supporters of both parties suffered injuries and among them, one Gopal Paul (45) and Sanjoy Nath Sharma (35) were referred to GB Hospital for their critical injuries and other injured persons were admitted to Khowai hospital.

Meanwhile, CPI (M) leader Pabitra Kar alleged that when their supporters were moving through a procession in the Beltali area, miscreants owing allegiance to the ruling party without any provocation attacked their rally and when CPI (M) workers resisted the attackers, they escaped from the spit.

While, BJP’s Khowai district in-charge Amit Rakshit alleged that opposition CPI (M) does not have any ground in Khowai and fearing losing of Khowai assembly seat in next assembly election, they tried to vitiate the peaceful environment of Khowai through their political violence. He also threatened that if CPI(M) engage themselves with violent politics, the BJP will not keep quiet and they will also resist them.

He also alleged that when Yuva Morcha workers were busy with decoration in Singhicherra area for party’s ‘Ghar Ghar BJP’ campaign, CPI (M) workers led by Pabitra Kar, Padma Kumar Debbarma and MLA Nirmal Biswas attacked on their supporters and started stone pelting targeting BJP workers.

However, police sources said that large numbers of security forces were deployed in that spot before the pitch-battle and police restrained both party workers to stop the violence clash.