The opposition CPI (M) urges Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha to intervene in providing compensation to those affected by the communal violences at Kadamtala and Pekucherra in North Tripura district and to take concrete steps to restore normalcy in these areas.

CPI(M) state secretary and leader of opposition (LoP) Jitendra Chaudhury  along with former minister Manik Dey and Kadamtala constituency MLA Islam Uddin addressing a press conference at party headquarters on Saturday afternoon said that they met Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha in a deputation and presented their demands before the Chief Minister including compensation for families whose houses and shops were destroyed in the violence, identification of individuals directly or indirectly involved in the incidents, followed by legal action against them, and continued police deployment in all violence affected areas until peace is fully restored.

The violence at Kadamtala occurred on October 6th and 7th this year, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to at least 17 others. The clashes erupted among two communities  from a dispute over a Durga Puja subscription demand from a local club, which escalated into widespread violence. Several shops were vandalized, looted, and set ablaze on the streets.

A week later, similar communal tensions erupted in Pekucherra under the same district, which created panic among communities in the district.

The incident of communal violences at Kadamtala and later at Pekucherra in North Tripura has caused widespread unrest, said Chaudhury and asked why did this happen?

He claimed that  due to the state government’s anti-people policies, unfulfilled promises, and disconnection from the public and instigation by a section of ruling party leaders, such incidents occurred.

The CPI(M) also demanded that the state government cover the full medical expenses for treating the injured victims and provide financial aid to help affected families quickly resume their trade and livelihoods.

Chaudhury further alleged that law and order in the North Tripura district had been deteriorating for some time. He pointed to incidents such as the ethnic clashes in Gandacherra under Dhalai district, three months ago, where a tribal youth was killed, several shops and houses were torched, and many residents were forced to seek refuge in relief camps.

He also referred to the Koitorabari incident in the Jirania subdivision of West Tripura two months ago, where at least 20 houses belonging to religious minority families were set on fire or damaged during a clash over the alleged defacement of a local Kali temple.

Chaudhury claimed that these incidents indicate the state government’s failure to maintain law and order.

He said that during the meeting with the Chief Minister, they also criticized an unnamed BJP minister, accusing him of inciting communal tensions. He urged the Chief Minister to ensure that such statements are immediately stopped and the said minister should his decorum of the constitutional post.

On November 8th last a  CPI(M) delegation led by former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar visited Kadamtala and Pekucherra  and during their  visit, they met with some of the affected victims and visited the Kadamtala market, where they nearly 160 shops were set on fire, looted, or vandalized.