AGARTALA, Aug 23 - Over 50 innocent people, including ten security personnel, were injured when the Indigenous People�s Front of Tripura (IPFT) supporters created mayhem in the capital town on Tuesday.
A large number of vehicles and bikes were torched by the IPFT supporters, creating havoc for an hour. The IPFT members entered Agartala with lethal weapons like �takkals�, clubs and spears, and started stalking in the town to join a rally at Vivekananda Ground here. The rally was organised to garner support for the Tipraland state demand.
Suddenly, they attacked a woman and her child at Surya Chowmuhuni around 2:15 pm for trying to cross over to the other side of the road through a gap during the procession. Both the woman and her child sustained serious injuries and were hospitalised. Since police was totally inactive, the trouble escalated fast as the unruly IPFT supporters went on the rampage, attacking businessmen, pedestrians and shopkeepers creating a total lawlessness.
Meanwhile, a group of youths severely assaulted four tribal youths in front of Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan and burnt one jeep. Later, police rushed to the spot and dispersed the irate mob and sent all the injured persons to GB Hospital.
Although there is no official confirmation, over 50 persons were injured in the IPFT-sponsored attacks.
With the situation going out of control, DGP K Nagraj, District Magistrate, West Dr Milind Ramteke, SP (West) Abhijeet Saptarshi and other senior officials rushed to the spot to tackle the situation.
Additional security personnel, including BSF jawans, have been deployed in different locations of the capital town to defuse the tension.
As part of precautionary measure, the West Tripura district administration has imposed prohibitory order under Section 144 all over Agartala to prevent illegal gathering of people.
