Culprits behind Santirbazar attack will face exemplary punishment: Tripura CM
At least twelve people were injured after bandh supporters allegedly attacked officials.
A file image of Tripura CM Manik Saha
Agartala, Oct 24: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that those responsible for the attack on government officials and others in Dhalai district during the October 23 bandh will face exemplary punishment.
His statement came a day after bandh supporters allegedly attacked officials at Santirbazar in Dhalai district on Thursday evening. The bandh had been called by the newly formed organisation Tripura Civil Society (TCS).
At least twelve people, including Salema Block Development Officer (BDO) Abhijit Majumdar, engineer Animesh Saha, and Kamalpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Samudra Debbarma, sustained injuries in the incident.
"The way the bandh supporters carried out a deadly attack on the officials and people at Santirbazar on Thursday is a blot on the name of the movement. They have not only attacked, but also looted away many things from the village market. Those who are involved in the attack will get exemplary punishment," the CM told reporters after visiting the three injured officials at the GBP hospital here.
When asked who was involved in the attack, the CM said, "I have already mentioned on my official Facebook page who was behind the deadly attack at Santirbazar."
"We strongly condemn the violent attack by Tipra Motha supporters on Abhijit Majumdar (BDO), engineer, Animesh Saha, and residents of Santirbazar, Dhalai district. Such acts of violence are unacceptable. The administration has been directed to take swift and strict action against those responsible," he wrote on social media on Thursday.
The Tipra Motha is a junior partner of the BJP-led government in Tripura.
Meanwhile, in a video message, Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma, who called the statewide bandh on the eight-point charter of demands, thanked the people for joining the shutdown.
"I thanked the people who have joined the bandh to make it a success. The bandh called by a civil society will be an example in the state because of its success," he said.
Debbarma said there was a clash between two groups at Santirbazar on Thursday in which three tribal persons were also injured.
"It is unfortunate. I have condemned the incident and extended my sympathy to the injured persons. I wanted to visit Santirbazar today, but the DGP asked me not to move," he said.
Notably, on Thursday over 10 people, including three government officers, were injured as the shutdown called by a newly-floated outfit turned violent in Tripura's Dhalai district rompting the government to impose prohibitory orders.
The TCS, led by TMP MLA Ranjit Debbarma, called the 24-hour shutdown on Thursday to highlight its eight-point charter of demands.
The demands were- implementation of the Tiprasa Accord, detection of illegal immigrants, and setting up of detention camps in each district.
PTI