Amidst growing political tension, after clash among two rival political groups and killing of one CPI(M) supporter and injuries of many supporters of both parties, police has registered two separate FIRs and has also arrested four persons allegedly involved in the violence held at Charilam on Wednesday.

After the  massive political clash erupted at Charilam Bazar under Sepahijala district on Wednesday among the supporters of ruling BJP and opposition CPI(M), one 75 years  man Shahid Miah was  killed and as many as 15 of both party supporters suffered critical injuries. During the clash and pitch-battle among both party supporters in the middle of National Highway-8, few police personnel and scribes also suffered injuries.

Police sources said that two BJP workers identified as Subham Debnath (25) and Dilip Kumar Bhowmik (54) were arrested based on FIR registered by CPI(M) and two more persons  Bhabotosh Datta (48), a Congress workers and Goutam Das (56), a CPI(M) supporters were arrested over the complaint registered by BJP.

While, after day long tension and allegation and counter allegations, on Thursday morning opposition CPI(M) gheraoed the police headquarters after police forces restricted them to take over the body of slain party worker Shahid Miah from the morgue of the GB Hospital.

After a brief brawl in front of the morgue, security forces take custody of the dead body and send it to the ancestral village of Shahid Miah, where the burial of the deceased was completed as per the religious customs.

On Thursday afternoon, CPI(M) organized protest processions all over the state to protest  murder of veteran party worker. A long procession marched through the streets of Agartala raising slogans for immediate arrest of all culprits involved in the murder of Shahid Miah and their exemplary punishment. CPI(M) workers and leaders  condemning the inaction and partisan role of police  have also blockaded that road at Orient Choumohani area of Agartala, where leaders of the party addressed the gathering.

CPI(M) leader blamed the inaction and partisan rule  of SP (Sepahijala) Jagadishwar Reddy  and SDPO(Bishalgarh) for Wednesday’s violence. “Our programme had been organized with permission obtained in advance from police but the security arrangement was not enough on the spot and after the trouble had started even the party secretary Jitendra  Chowdhury spoke to Jagadishwar Reddy but still there was no response” said veteran leader Manik Dey.

Addressing a press conference here at CPI(M) headquarters on Thursday evening, CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury accompanied by senior party leaders Manik Dey and Pabitra Kar condemning the murder of Shahid Miah said during past 57 months rule of BJP government, altogether 24 CPI(M) workers and leaders were murdered in the state.

He said that the violent attack by BJP goons took place when the party cadres had gone to reopen the local committee office in Charilam, which had been forcibly shut down for the past four and a half years.

In this brazen attack by BJP goons, not only killed Shahid Miah but many others seriously injured, including senior leader Bhanu Lal Saha, MLA and former Finance Minister. This violence typifies the state of affairs in Tripura ever since the BJP government came to office in March 2018, said Chowdhury.

He also alleged that during the past 57 months the CPI(M) and other opposition parties are not allowed to function freely, run their offices or conduct normal political activities and in support of police administration , the ruling BJP continues their politics of violence and suppression.

With assembly elections just two months away, the ruling party, with the connivance of the administration and police, continues to terrorize political opponents, said Chowdhury and added he along with Pabitra Kar on Thursday evening met the DGP Amitabh Ranjan and demanded impartial rule of police to protect the democracy.

Chowdhury said they urged the DGP that the police should immediately  take firm action to apprehend the culprits responsible for the killing and violence and take strict action against them.  CPIM) leaders also demanded removal of SP(Sepahijala) and SDPO (Bishalgarh) Rahul Das to protect the democratic rules of police administration.