Pre-Panchayat Poll Violence in Tripura: Cong leader Sudip Roy Barman injured, party seeks Governor’s intervention

Congress claimed that several of its members including veteran party leader and MLA Sudip Roy Barman were injured in the clashes

Reported by Pinaki Das

Political violence continues in Tripura ahead of the upcoming Panchayat polls. According to reports coming in, supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress clashed in front of the Tepania block office in the Gomati district last evening.

The violence erupted during the last day of filing of nomination papers yesterday when several Congress supporters, including candidates and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and MLA Sudip Roy Barman, were allegedly attacked by political party workers, the Congress claimed.
The Congress has claimed that members of the party including Roy Barman were injured in the incident. A few police personnel were also injured in the attack.

The Congress party has condemned the attack, calling it a blatant attempt to intimidate their candidates.

Speaking to media, MLA Sudip Roy Barman said that the attack was not an isolated case and highlighted a pattern of similar assaults on Opposition candidates and supporters, as well as instances of arson targeting homes and party offices in the days leading up to the elections.

Roy Barman, a former Minister also criticised the police for their inaction, accusing them of being passive observers and, in some cases, victims of physical assault by BJP goons.

“The BJP has descended into lawlessness, with no space for those committed to public service,” said Roy Barman.

In response to the escalating violence, a six-member Congress delegation, including MP Tariq Anwar, Deputy Opposition Leader of the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, CWC member and MLA Sudip Roy Barman, Tripura in-charge Girish Raya Chodankar, AICC secretary Szarita Laitphlang, and TPCC president Asish Kumar Saha met Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu at the Raj Bhawan and sought his intervention alleging that the rule of law has ceased to exist in the state.

It may be mentioned here that Badal Shil, CPIM’s candidate for South Tripura Zilla Parishad died on Saturday following pre-panchayat poll violence in Rajnagar, South Tripura district.

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