Calling police super an 'idiot' was not right, admits LoP

Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury on Thursday admitted that calling the Superintendent of Police South Tripura, an ‘idiot’ was not right and asserted that it was an outburst of anger.

"I was very upset in that situation. The SP was not answering my calls and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer was asking us to return. In anger I called the SP an 'idiot'. It was not right and I admit that," he said.

The Leader of Opposition was speaking at a press conference at Sabroom, in his own constituency. 

He also welcomed the response of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha to the controversy over his remarks against the South Tripura Superintendent of Police.

"Whether the response is favourable or otherwise, I welcome the Chief Minister for reacting within 24 hours," Chaudhury said.

At the same time, he raised a series of the questions for the Chief Minister and the administration to answer. 

The Leader of the Opposition said the party had organised a memorial meeting on Tuesday after obtaining prior permission from the police to mark the second death anniversary of CPI(M) leader Badal Shil, who, according to the party, was killed in 2024 while returning home after filing his nomination for the Zilla Parishad elections.

Chaudhury alleged that despite prior permission, police stopped his convoy around four kilometres before Chottakhola and that several vehicles carrying CPI(M) workers were vandalised in the presence of police personnel.

He claimed that, anticipating trouble after an alleged incident involving former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar during the same programme last year, he had informed Director General of Police Anurag from New Delhi, who had assured him of security arrangements.

According to Chaudhury, despite speaking to the DGP again after being stopped, no effective action was taken and the South Tripura Superintendent of Police did not respond to repeated phone calls.

He alleged that after eventually reaching Chottakhola market, a Deputy Collector requested him not to proceed with the programme.

Calling the incident "pre-planned", Chaudhury alleged, "This is not democracy, it is hooliganism."

The CPI(M) leader posed three questions to the Chief Minister: whether he could say BJP workers had no role in the killing of Badal Shil in 2024; why a programme permitted by the administration was not allowed to be held; and why permission was granted if the administration was unable to maintain the situation.

On the proposed "Destination Tripura" business conclave, Chaudhury said he wanted the project to succeed and the Maitri Bridge at Sabroom to become operational at the earliest for the state's development, adding that he would extend full cooperation to such development initiatives.