Agartala: Leader of the Opposition in the Tripura Assembly, Jitendra Chaudhury, on Thursday called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a senior police officer to probe the Shimultala violence and ensure stringent punishment for those responsible.
The demand follows clashes between two groups over the collection of festival subscriptions at Shimultala, under the Fatikroy police station in Unakoti district, on January 10. The violence affected around 15 families and left at least six people injured.
Prohibitory orders were imposed and a huge contingent of security forces deployed in Kumarghat subdivision of Unakoti district. Internet services were also been suspended across the Kumarghat sub-division for 48 hours as a precautionary measure.
Chaudhury said he met Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha and urged him to take immediate steps to restore normalcy in the area. “I have demanded the formation of a SIT under a senior police officer so that the perpetrators are identified and exemplary punishment is ensured,” he said.
He also pressed for the establishment of a temporary police camp at Shimultala, claiming that fear has driven many youths to flee their homes. According to him, the affected families should be provided financial assistance to help them rebuild their livelihoods, as vehicles and equipment such as tractors, trucks and two-wheelers were allegedly set ablaze during the violence.
Chaudhury further alleged that the police had arrested innocent youths in connection with the incident and demanded their immediate release.
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Criticising Chief Minister Manik Saha, the Opposition leader accused him of failing to visit the affected families despite being in the region. “When Shimultala was burning, the Chief Minister was leading a roadshow in North Tripura. Even later, when he visited Unakoti district to attend a programme of the Darlong tribe, he did not go to the affected village,” Chaudhury alleged.
