Tension ran high in Udaipur's Gamaria Village Committee after a frenzied mob of locals launched vandalism and stone-pelting on senior officials and security personnel posted in the area to maintain calm.
Superintendent of Police, Gomati district, Anirban Das, suffered injuries to his head, while the official car of Udaipur SDPO Debanjali Roy was vandalised by the miscreants.
Sources in the police department said that while the situation was under control, a large number of security personnel, including CRPF, police and Tripura State Rifles troopers, had been deployed in the area to prevent further escalation of the violence.
The locals of the area, mostly Tipra Motha supporters, were organising protests as a means of retaliation for the firing on one of the party's candidates earlier in the afternoon. As per the latest information gathered till the filing of the report, the road blockade on the Udaipur-Amarpur road was still underway, and senior officials of the administration were making efforts to pacify the protesters.
Sources said that tension had been brewing soon after the firing took place in the afternoon, but the situation turned volatile when rumours of the candidate's death spread in the area. A large group of bike-borne miscreants were reportedly responsible for the violent attacks and stone-pelting on the security personnel, sources further added.
Earlier in the afternoon, a Tipra Motha Party candidate received bullet wounds after being shot at his waist during a face-off with rival party activists in the Warengbari area.
While no specific details were available about the incident, supporters of Tipra Motha who were escorting the injured party candidate alleged that the perpetrators belonged to the BJP.
“The incident occurred when we tried to resist the rival party workers. They tried to prevent us from entering a polling station, which led to the argument,” said a Tipra Motha supporter.
The injured Tipra Motha candidate has been identified as Khachindra Reang. Two other persons, identified as Chitrajoy Reang and Udayram Reang, also suffered injuries during the clash.
He was immediately shifted to Gomati District Hospital for treatment. The doctors there tried to remove the bullet for several hours, but they failed. Subsequently, he was referred to GB Pant Hospital, Agartala.
Local MLA and senior BJP leader Ram Pada Jamatia visited the injured person at the hospital.
“The patient is stable now. Doctors tried their best, but now he needs advanced treatment, which is why he is being referred to Agartala. He is responding to the visitors, and doctors have already assured us that he is out of danger,” said Jamatia.
He said that he had informed the Chief Minister about the health condition of the patient and that proper arrangements of treatment would be made at the hospital.
Senior Tipra Motha leader and TTAADC EM CK Jamatia was also present at the hospital. “The workers present during the incident informed us that three four-wheeler-borne miscreants reached the polling station at Warengbari. They threatened our candidate and his supporter, which led to an argument and eventually violence erupted. He was shot during the scuffle and later shifted to hospital. One of the cars had been identified, and we have shared the details with police for a speedy investigation,” he said.
On being asked about the identity of the perpetrators, he said, “It is the responsibility of the police to investigate and find out who is responsible. The local workers of our party have claimed that the incident was orchestrated by the BJP, but that is just an assumption. In any case, we hope the police will act fast. None of the perpetrators could be identified by name.”
He also indicated that the assailants were outsiders.
MDC Suraj Debbarma has left for GB Pant hospital to receive the patient.