AGARTALA:
The political situation in Tripura took a grim turn on June 20 after Congress leader and nominee from 6 Agartala Assembly Constituency Sudip Roy Barman was allegedly attacked by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed miscreants at Ujan Abhoynagar area of Agartala on June 19.
“We strongly condemn the attack on Sudip Roy. The BJP are scared that Congress candidates Sudip Roy Barman and Asish Kumar Saha will win the by-polls and hence resorted to such lawlessness,” Congress Working Committee member Ajoy Kumar said while stating that BJP workers carried out the attack.
Alleging that Cultural Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, BJP candidate Ashok Sinha and top strategist of BJP’s bike-borne terror squad Arindam Chakraborty were present at the spot when the incident happened, he said, “We have video evidence of Barman’s vehicle being vandalized by an unruly mob and the minister and other BJP leaders along with cops strolling down the road.”
After the incident, the Congress lodged an FIR against Chowdhury, BJP candidate Sinha and against unknown miscreants who were behind the attack.
“It was a murderous attack. He sustained serious injuries on his face and leg. Looking at the injuries it is clear that miscreants had malicious intentions, but he narrowly escaped. With all the evidence we have lodged an FIR against all those involved in the attack,” Kumar added.
Denying the allegations, Chowdhury said, “We had prior information that a large group of people led by Sudip Roy Barman were approaching to create nuisance. Accordingly, we reached the spot to bring things under control. However, we found that Barman had fallen, and there was no political clash.”
The minister further said that after the incident Barman was advised to go home as the central armed forces deployed in the area were looking into the incident.
On the other hand, the BJP has also filed a counter FIR with the East Agartala Police station against unknown miscreants and former MLA Sudip Roy Barman.
Meanwhile opposition parties Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) have also condemned the incident.
“Woke up to hear the news that MLA Sudip Roy Barman was injured last night! I appeal for peace and a free and fair investigation. The elections should be free and fair and there should be no violence or threat to the people of Tripura,” TIPRA chairman Pradyot Kishore Manikya said.
State CPI-M secretary Jitendra Chowdhury termed the attack as cowardly and a direct attack on democracy.