IPFT Cadres Attack CPI(M) Candidate and Activists in Tripura, 5 Hurt
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Amidst rising political clashes in election-bound Tripura, Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) cadres on Friday attacked Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate for Takarjala constituency Ramendra Debbarma and some other party activists.
CPI(M), Tripura Secretary Bijan Dhar, in a letter to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sriram Taranikanti, said that during an election campaign by 12-Takarjala(ST) candidate Ramendra Debbarma, some IPFT(NC) cadres attacked a car accompanying him and his supporters, injuring five CPI(M) members.
The injured were shifted to a government hospital.
"Without any provocation, IPFT goons also ransacked the CPI(M) office at Takarjala and demolished it though it was situated close to the Takarjala police station. The attack took place in front of the police who did not try to stop the miscreants," the letter said.
"The IPFT is an electoral partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This incident has vindicated our previous apprehensions as the IPFT had made a series of unprovoked attacks on CPI(M) supporters earlier too."
Inspector General of Police K.V. Sreejesh told IANS that no one had been arrested and a hunt had been launched for the attackers.
Earlier, on February 8, BJP workers had ransacked party offices of CPI(M), Centre of Indian Trade Unions and Motor Shmramik Union at Shantibazar on their way to Sonamura rally of Narendra Modi.
Addressing a press conference at CPI(M) headquarters at Melarmarth area of Agartala on the evening of February 8 , Bijan Dhar said that BJP supporters, especially outsiders, are now trying to disturb the peaceful environment of the state.
“We lodged our complaint before the Election Commission of India (ECI) and urged for tight security arrangement across the state in poll-bound Tripura”, said Dhar.
The Left party demanded immediate deployment of paramilitary forces in Takarjala, Golaghati and Ampinagar Assembly constituencies, all reserved for tribals, to ensure a free, fair and smooth election on February 18.
After forging an electoral alliance with the IPFT, the BJP has fielded 51 candidates and left nine seats for the junior partner.
(Inputs from IANS)
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