Tension triggers after death of post-poll violence victim of BJP in Tripura

Agartala: A large number of BJP supporters blockade the VIP road in Gurkhabasti area of the city on Monday demanding the arrest of the remaining FIR named accused of the attack of 70 -yrs old BJP worker and president of a local club Tapan Bhowmik who died in Agartala Govt Medical College in the morning.

A police spokesperson said, “Bhowmik was assaulted badly by a group of his neighbours and he had received gravies head injuries on March 2 during the victory procession after the announcement of election results of Tripura assembly in Gurkhabasti area close to the Civil Secretariat. He died in the hospital and tension sparked off when the body was brought to the club for paying tribute.”

He said the main accused of the incident Narayan Debnath and his son Atanu Debnath were arrested and are now in judicial custody. The investigation is progressing and if prima facie established the involvement of the others all would be booked. The victim’s family registered a case against nine people for an attempt to murder.

The authorities stepped up security in the entire stretch since morning and central paramilitary force personnel have been deployed in the locality to maintain peace. Allegedly, the deceased Bhowmik along with two others stormed the house of Narayan Debnath, an ex-serviceman in an inebriated condition, an hour later the announcement of BJP’s victory.

They allegedly attacked the house and insulted the female members of the family and a child, which enraged the house owner Narayan Debnath and he along with his son Atanu launched retaliation against the attackers with sharp weapons.

“In the indiscriminate attack, Tapan received serious head injuries while two of his accompanies ran away with minor hits. Later, other neighbours with the help of police evacuated him in front of the accused house and shifted him to the hospital. The accused persons were arrested immediately in a police raid,” police said.

According to the neighbours, on the day of the poll to Agartala Municipal Corporation in 2021, Tapan and others assaulted Narayan Debnath on the street accusing him of going to cast vote for CPI(M). He had registered an attempt to murder case against Dey and others but police didn’t take any action. Later, he moved to High Court from where police were directed to arrest the accused but the order was flouted.

After BJP secured the victory Tapan along with others had allegedly gone for taking revenge against Narayan Debnath for pursuing police to execute the high court order. Tripura has registered about 1300 incidents of violence after election results were announced where BJP has been accused of attacking CPI(M) and Congress including parliamentarians and TIPRA Motha attacking BJP along with CPI(M) in some places.

The BJP leaders including their former MLA, Mandal President, and a number of local leaders across the state have allegedly been attacked and assaulted by their own party cadres claiming them for involving conspiracy against the party candidates in the elections. (UNI)