Tripura CPM demands DGP to provide security for opposition, accusing police of partial role

AGARTALA: Raising allegation of large scale violence and prevention of opposition parties in filing nomination for the ensuing Panchayat polls, main opposition in Tripura CPI-M on Tuesday demanded adequate security for the opposition candidates to pave the way of safe submission of candidature and to campaign thereafter.

Former Left Front Minister and CPI-M State Committee member Manik Dey told media that they had met Director General of Police Amitabh Ranjan for the second time in five days with the same demand on Monday and urged him to ensure police should act properly.

He alleged CPM’s South Tripura Zilla Parishad candidate Badal Shil was brutally attacked in broad daylight in presence of security forces, the miscreants looted and set fire the houses and shops in Gandatwisa in front of police, CPM’s rally in Santchand of South Tripura on Monday were attacked in presence of police but no action.

“House of a Congress worker in Bishalgarh was set on fire by BJP goons but police arrested the victim on a false case and actual culprits became set free; such blunt acts of police upset the citizens and encourage the criminals to continue their onslaught as they are getting full protection,” Dey underlined.

Before announcement of the election schedule of Panchayat in the Block level all party meetings convened by the respective ROs (BDOs), opposition representatives were physically prevented by the ruling BJP cadres in Block premises, and inside the office of the BDOs of Boxanagar, Salema, Dukli, Bamutia, and Jirania, he stated.

The violent and aggressive move of the ruling BJP for winning all the seats in all tiers uncontested, has been intensified following the notification of the Panchayat election. All roads leading to Block offices, the BJP miscreants have been squatting with brickbats, lathis, iron sticks and other lethal weapons to prevent any opposition followers from approaching the offices for filing nomination.

Moreover, in many places, the candidates and their proposers are being threatened and pressurized is being mounted upon them to withdraw nominations. Due to violent action of the ruling BJP, the opposition parties were physically prevented from filing nominations in the first three days in different block offices, Dey pointed out.

The CPM leader claimed that they failed to submit nomination in Durga Chowmuhani, Khowai, Kalyanpur, Teliamura, Jirania, Old Agartala, Mohanpur, Bamutia, Bishalgarh, Charilam, Nalchar, Boxanagar, Dukli, Kakraban, Tepania, Matabari, Rajnagar, Bogafa, Jolaibari, Hrishyamukh, Bharat Chandra Nagar, Satchand and Poangbari so far out of 58 blocks of Tripura due to violent threat and intimidation of ruling party cadres.

“We demanded to DGP to drive out any kind of gathering of any party from inside the Block premises and all paths and roads leading to block at least up to 5 km and deployed security personnel with proper instruction of impartiality and to provide escort to opposition candidate till the last date of withdrawal of nomination,” Dey underlined.

He added to arrange protection of lives and properties of opposition candidates and their proposers till the election ends. While admitting the facts, DGP claimed he would not be able to do anything unless State Election Commission doesn't direct them since the matters are related to election.