Tensions flared in Tripura ahead of the upcoming assembly elections as clashes broke out in the state’s Belonia and Bishalgarh constituencies on Sunday, injuring several people.
According to initial reports, the clashes erupted between workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M). Moreover, several Congress party workers were also involved in the clashes, reports claimed.
The incident took place early in the day in which a total of 10 people were left with injuries. As per reports, the injured included five workers each from both sides.
According to information received, BJP workers stormed into a campaign of CPI-M in Belonia after which a physical brawl erupted leaving five workers of the saffron party injured. Elsewhere in Bishalgarh, five Congress workers sustained injuries in an attack by the workers of BJP.
Meanwhile, the injured people were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where they are undergoing treatment.
Later in the day, Congress and CPI-M workers led out protests blocking the road leading to Bishalgarh Police Station demanding action against the BJP workers. They cried out slogans and called for the arrest of the BJP goons.
Additionally, leaders of the Congress party and CPI-M alleged inaction on the part of the police in both the areas of violence in Belonia and Bishalgarh. They said that the police did not do anything to prevent the attacks on their party workers and were mere bystanders to the entire incident.
Furthermore, Tripura Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman went to meet with the police officer in charge of the Bishalgarh Police Station after being informed about the incident. However, having reached the police station, he did not find any senior official there. He then demanded the immediate arrest of the BJP workers who were involved in inciting the violence in the poll-bound state.
