Charilam (Tripura), Aug 01, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk
At least 16 workers of ruling BJP and Congress were injured when a clash erupted between two groups at Charilam in Sepahijala district of Tripura on Monday.
Even police had to resort to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.
There was a joining programme of Congress in front of Charilam Congress Bhavan. TPCC president Birjit Sinha and other Congress leaders- Sudip Roy Barman, Gopal Roy and Ashis Kumar Saha were present. On the other hand, a thanks giving rally was organized by BJP at Charilam mini stadium.
There was deployment of security personnel in adequate numbers at Charilam following the two political programmes.
At the end of the joining programme, the local unit of Congress sought permission for organizing a rally. Denied permission, the Congress worker, as alleged by BJP, damaged campaign materials and also raised provocative slogans targeting the ruling party workers.
The brawl reportedly started when the local BJP supporters protested the incident. All of a sudden, the situation turned volatile followed by a hot altercation between the workers of BJP and Congress.
As the supporters of both the parties got engaged in clash, the police resorted to lathi charge to bring the situation under control.
At least 16 persons including BJP Charilam mandal president Rajkumar Debnath were injured in the clash. The injured persons were taken to the hospital soon after the incident.
Meanwhile, Congress alleged that a large group of BJP supporters holding party flags gathered at a place near the joining programme. While the Congress workers initiated a rally, the BJP supporters continued to raise provocative slogans.
On the other hand, the BJP workers staged a road blockade protesting the Congress’ alleged attack. The protestors demanded immediate arrest of the persons involved in attacking the BJP workers.
The vehicular movement on the national highway came to a halt at Charilam following the road blockade that lasted for over two hours.
District Magistrate, Sepahijala- Viswashree B, Superintendent of Police, Sepahijala- Ratiranjan Debnath, DSP Manas Debbarma, SDM Binoy Bhusan Das, Addl. SP Ranadhir Debbarma among other police officers rushed to the spot but failed to clear the road.
Finally, Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma reached the spot and assured the agitators that appropriate action would be taken against the accused persons. A meeting is expected to be held in connection with the incident.