Tripura: Violence erupts after BJP offices vandalised following CM Manik Saha's programme

Agartala: Hours after Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha addressed a joining programme at Takarjala, violence broke out in multiple places, leaving several injured.

Two party offices of the ruling BJP were vandalised while a four-wheeler owned by the BJP Mandal President of Jampuijala came under attack in the last 24 hours, BJP state General Secretary Bipin Debbarma said.

Debbarma, who is en route to Jampuijala, said, “On Tuesday night, our Mandal office located at Khumulang was vandalised by miscreants. Party flags, furniture, photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Maharaja Bir Bikram were torn apart by the miscreants. Our party workers who tried to resist the vandals suffered injuries. The incident occurred at around 8:30 P.M.”

The second incident, according to Debbarma, occurred on Wednesday afternoon. “The vehicle of our Mandal President, Nirmal Debbarma, was vandalised by the miscreants. One of our workers who tried to resist was thrashed inhumanely. The Mandal office was also attacked. I am currently on my way to Jampuijala,” said Debbarma.

While the BJP leaders refused to make any direct allegations, many of them alluded to Tipra Motha party workers for masterminding the attacks.

Despite being a constituent of the ruling alliance, the relationship between Tipra Motha and the BJP has remained full of tension and suspense over the last couple of months.

Leaders of both parties abstain from making direct references, but veiled attacks on each other have become a common feature of the alliance.

Many political observers describe it as a ‘bitter in private but sweet in public’ kind of transaction between both political parties.

Meanwhile, Tipra Motha leader and MLA Biswajit Kalai, on the other hand, alleged that the BJP has been trying to create unrest and disrupt the peace.

He even accused Chief Minister Manik Saha of being partial towards the BJP workers. “He is the Chief Minister of every citizen of the state. If he takes the side of a political party during public addresses, it sends out the wrong message. Some portions of his speech are extremely provocative,” said Kalai while briefing the media personnel at Khumulwng on Tuesday night after the violence.

He alleged that three workers of his party had suffered injuries during the violent clash that erupted after BJP workers allegedly launched an unprovoked attack on ‘innocent’ Tipra Motha supporters.

On being asked about it, BJP leader Bipin Debbarma rubbished the allegations and said, “BJP workers are not involved in any kind of violence. We have filed an FIR in connection with the Khumulang incident, and a separate FIR will be filed about the Jampuijala incident as well.”