Agartala, May 10 (UNI): Former chief minister of Tripura and leader of the opposition Manik Sarkar along with two other CPI-M MLAs — Badal Chowdhury and Sudhan Das — were attacked in Shantirbazar of South Tripura on Monday allegedly by ruling BJP cadres.
According to report, a large number of BJP supporters, including a sizeable number of women were assembled in the locality well ahead of Sarkar and other leaders violating Covid protocol.
As soon as the convoy of opposition MLAs reached the spot, they started abusing Sarkar and pelted stones and bottles on them.
Two vehicles were destroyed and the local leaders somehow could manage to escape the gathering. An empty bottle hit Chowdhury’s head and he was injured while Das and senior CPI-M leader Tapas Datta were also claimed to have been hit by stones.
Sarkar’s vehicle was damaged but he was unhurt.
“Local police and my escort somehow saved them from the attack and took us to a house. We were surprised to see the security arrangement of the spot, as our programme was pre-scheduled and BJP people were reportedly gathered on the road for a long time but police didn’t take any action to disperse them,” alleged Sarkar.
He pointed out that the state government has restricted all kinds of gathering due to Covid pandemic but how such a large number of people had assembled evading police and added, “The way people attacked us and abused we are sure it was pre-planned with the instruction of the top leaders of ruling BJP. Otherwise, at least the police could have not allowed such a big gathering without any reason on national highway.”
Sarkar further alleged that after losing West Bengal elections, BJP has stepped up their atrocities on the opposition supporters, innocent people and media persons. They went to meet with workers who were attacked by BJP goons in Shantirbazar area recently and there was no programme or gathering of CPI-M party.
“In the assembly, Chief Minister assured the house that MLAs and political leaders of all the parties would not face any problem travelling in the state and carrying out their party activities. But the way, we have been attacked today and few days ago Congress leaders were attacked in Khowai, these made us to believe that law and order situation of Tripura goes out of control and ruling party lost all grips on their cadres, which is a bad omen for democracy,” Sarkar stated.
He further mentioned that not only the opposition party leaders and supporters were attacked, BJP cadres have been resorting attacks on media persons whoever writing against their corruption and misrule. So far, 25 journalists of Tripura have been attacked by BJP goons in last six months but no action was taken against anybody.
