Largescale disturbance in CPI (M)’s programme at Charilam market, CPI (M) and BJP supporter injured in violence and counter-attack

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 30, 2022

The BJP’s motor bike mafia elements who have earned considerable notoriety over the past five years by launching unprovoked attacks on all opposition parties got a taste of their own medicine as eight of them had to sustain injuries in counter-attacks by the CPI (M) whose meeting they had tried to disrupt by resorting to unprovoked violent attacks. Police sources said that today the CPI (M) had a police-permitted programme at Charilam market as part of which they were to hold a meeting and then meet in deputation with the BDO, Charilam on their five point charter of demands.

Around 11-00 AM when the CPI (M)’s meeting was on a large group of motor bike mafia elements of BJP appeared on the spot and started indiscriminate stone pelting and violent attacks on the CPI (M) supporters. In the unprovoked attack former finance minister and senior CPI (M) leader of Bishalgarh Bhanulal Saha sustained a serious injuries on his face and nose and started bleeding . Having put up with the attack for some time the CPI (M) supporters also counter-attacked and beat up a number of BJP rowdies , eight of which sustained serious injuries just as eight CPI (M) workers and leaders had sustained injuries. The fight between the two groups continued for some time in front of police and then the BJP hoodlums beat a hasty retreat from the area. All the injured persons had to undergo treatment in Bishalgarh hospital while at least six had to be rushed to GBP hospital , Agartala for treatment. The local people said that a number of country-made crude bombs had been exploded by the BJP attackers.

Senior CPI (M) leader Bhanulal Saha said that their peaceful and police-permitted programme had been attacked by the BJP and ‘our workers might have resisted, having no other alternative’.

However, BJP’s tribal leader Devid Debbarma, a close lieutenant of deputy chief minister Jishnu Debbarma, said that CPI (M) and ‘Tipra Motha’ supporters had joined hands to attack the BJP workers, many of whom were injured . He however did not say anything about the BJP’s unprovoked attack on CPI (M)’s meeting.