Kumarghat, Feb 18, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk

Kumarghat, Feb 19: Tension prevailed at Kumarghat in Unakoti district following two political incidents during the past 24 hours. At least 17 people including two police officers were injured in the two separate incidents.
 
In the first incident, a brawl between two persons had turned into a political issue at Sonaimuri area in Kumarghat on Friday. The situation had turned volatile following a clash between two groups of supporters from BJP and CPM-Congress.
 
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Kumarghat Kamal Debbarma along with a large contingent of police rushed to the spot and resorted to mild lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.
 
Sub-Inspector Biswa Pratim Chakraborty and another person- Nishi Malakar, a BJP supporter, were injured in the incident.
 
Reportedly, a group BJP brought out a rally in protest against the incident and some people from the rally vandalized a Congress party office, one vehicle and a tea shop on Friday night.
 
The CPM and Congress supporters jointly staged a blockade on the national highway on Saturday morning demanding immediate arrests of the culprits, who attacked the Congress party office. In the meantime, when a group of BJP supporters assembled on the national highway, a clash broke out between the two groups. There was an allegation that a CPM worker- Sujan Saha was beaten up.
 
Meanwhile, police reached the spot and brought the situation under control followed by a lathi-charge. The officer-in-charge of Kumarghat police station received minor injuries in the incident.
 
According to sources, two policemen among 15 people were injured in the two incidents.
 
BJP Minister Bhagaban Chandra Das alleged that the Congress-CPM sensing defeat had launched the attacks in a planned manner. Pradesh Congress president Birajit Sinha and another party leader- Md. Badrujjaman countered the minister's allegation and held BJP responsible for the incident.
 
Finally, District Magistrate, Unakoti- Dr. Vishal Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Unakoti- Kanta Jahangir convened a peace meeting with the representatives of various political parties on Saturday and appealed to them for maintaining peace and tranquillity.
 
Minister Bhagaban Das and Congress leader Satyaban Das along with the District Magistrate jointly announced that they would work together to maintain peace in the area and they appealed to all to take part in the mela organized at Bhavatarini Temple.
 
Speaking to the media, the SP Unakoti said that two separate FIRs against 10 persons were registered in connection with the incident and six of them were already arrested. She said that the situation was normal now.
 
The incident, however, triggered panic among the people of Kumarghat. Saturday was the weekly market day in Kumarghat but all shops were kept closed while there was little movement of people on the road.