ONE DEAD AS UNPRECEDENTED VIOLENCE RAGES AGARTALA

Agartala, Jul 11, 2011 : One Congress worker was shot dead and several others including Congress leaders, and policemen, TSR jawans were injured even as unprecedented violence raged Agartala city on Monday afternoon.

The sweeping violence erupted when opposition Congress activists attacked and ransacked main city police station- West Agartala Police Station- and set afire at least four police vehicles and damaged several others.

One TSR jawan was also seriously injured when a flying bullet hit him at chest.

Police opened unaccounted rounds of fire and resorted to massive lathi charge to disperse the violent mob. About 20 persons including Police officials, Tripura State Rifles jawans, Congress workers and leaders were injured some of them were reported to be critical. The civilian died in the incident identified as Bapai Saha. Entire Agartala Municipal Council area was brought under 144 CrPC .

Violence and pitched battles between Congress workers and police personnel, TSR jawans continued for several hours even as the Congress activists virtually taking over the control of the main city thoroughfares from Paradise Choumuhani to Kaman Choumuhani to RMS Choumuhani. Situation is highly volatile and tension swept the entire capital.

The violence started when Congress activists brought out a ‘silent procession’ from Congress Bhawan located in Post Office Choumuhani just in front of West Agartala Police Station. The Opposition was protesting against the police action and lathicharge on them on Sunday when they went to protest against the admission test being conducted by the Tripura Medical College.

In view of the protest march on Monday afternoon and Sunday’s experience, unprecedented security deployment was made in the Post Office Choumuhani where both the Congress Bhawan and West Agartala Police station both are located.

“The procession brought out at around 4.20 pm and as it took the turn around the Choumuhani (city square) the situation all of a sudden out of control. The Congress workers broke down the cordon and headed straight towards the police station and ran amok. As hundreds of Congress workers barged into the police station and went wild with raining down stones and bricks who ever in uniform fell in front of them situation went out of control”, said Ratan Saha, an eyewitness.

Unconfirmed reports said the Congress workers also charged crude bombs in the police stations.

The TSR jawans and Police personnel taken aback at the initial assault sought retaliate with lathi charge. But it was not enough as the brick batting continued with full fury. It was then the TSR and policemen began firing. First they opened blank fire but as it failed to yield expected results, they shot straight. One Tripura State Rifles jawan was shot at in the chest in the ensuing melee. It is suspected that he was shot by a flying bullet fired by another policeman. It was then several agitators were also injured. One among them reported to be extremely critical. MLA Sudip Roy Barman and other Congress leaders were also injured. They were all admitted in GB hospital.



“But by this time the thousands of Congress workers virtually took control of the roads that led to the area and began setting afire four police vehicles and damaged one Post office van and several motorbikes and scooters parked pelted stones on other cars also”, said an employee of a hotel adjoining to the Police Station.

When the violence broke out at that time DGP K Saleem Ali was holding a meeting with media personnel of the state including editors of local newspapers and senior journalists over the lathicharge that was committed on the media persons.

It from here IG law and order K Nagraj and several other senior police officials rushed to the spot with reinforcement. DM JK Sinha and SDM Moslemuddin also arrived at West Agartala Police station. 

“Eleven policemen and TSR personnel sustained serious injuries. Additional SP Kamal Chakrabarty was severely injured. There were some more civilians who were injured in the violence”, said Nagraj.

J K Sinha, DM West Tripura said, 144 CrPC was clamped in entire AMC area and restrictions on movement would enforced. Meantime massive reinforcement was made throughout the city and TSR personnel from various battalions were requisitioned.

Meantime, Youth Congress had called Agartala bandh on Wednesday.