Agartala: The Tripura state Congress headquarters was attacked, allegedly by BJP workers who ransacked the office, leaving state Congress chief Birjit Sinha critically injured on Sunday, hours after the declaration of results of by-polls to four Assembly constituencies.
Sinha has been hospitalised with stomach wounds.
The BJP won three of the four assembly seats where by-polls were held on June 23, while the Congress emerged victorious in the Agartala constituency.
Police said there was a “small incident” involving Congress workers and BJP Councillor Silpi Sen, when she was returning from the counting hall near IGM hospital. Following the incident, the BJP cadres attacked Congress Bhawan and vandalised it..
However, the ruling BJP filed a police complaint blaming the Congress for “starting the chaos” and demanded the arrest of the opposition party’s workers “because of whom” the violence took place.
The miscreants who attacked Congress Bhawan stabbed another Congress supporter Roni Mian, beat up several others and destroyed a few motorbikes and vehicles in front of the police.
However, the police couldn’t detain any of the miscreants.
The newly-elected Congress legislator from Agartala Sudip Roybarman alleged the attack was “instigated” by a minister.
“At the instigation of a minister, listed criminals known as BJP youth cadres have suddenly attacked Congress Bhawan when we all were waiting for lunch. I am surprised to see the response of the policemen deployed for maintaining peace – they were mum,” said Roybarman.
“Within an hour of victory, if BJP attacks the office of an opposition party and attempts to kill its state chief inside his office in broad daylight and in presence of the police, it clearly indicates their nervousness.
“It sends out a message that BJP is now in the hands of criminals and antisocials,” Roybarman said, adding, “I don’t believe Chief Minister (Manik Saha) supports such an incident,” said Roybarman.
Immediately after the attack, Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath and Information Minister Sushanta Chowdhury rushed to the police station demanding the arrest of Congress workers who had “started the chaos” that led to the violence.
However, the Chief Minister called upon the supporters of all the political parties including the BJP to maintain peace and tranquillity in the state.
He directed the police to handle the situation with an iron hand as per law.
Meanwhile, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi strongly condemned the “vicious attack on our leaders & workers by BJP goons” following the Congress’ win in the Agartala bypoll.
“The people are with us. Shameful that the police stood as mute spectators instead of stopping the attack. These BJP goons must be brought to justice,” said Rahul in a tweet.
Manipur Congress also strongly condemned the attack of BJP goons on Congress office and its state unit president Birajit Sinha.
In a telephonic conversation with Tripura PCC president, Ningombam Bupenda Meitei, MPCC senior spokesperson, shared his serious concerns on attack by BJP goons and further demanded the state government arrest those attackers immediately.
There is no place for violence in democracy. Bupenda added.
