Agartala: The Tripura Congress on Monday accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters of attacking the home of Youth Congress leader Sahajan Islam in West Tripura district, allegedly in retaliation for his criticism of Chief Minister Manik Saha on social media.
According to the Congress, a mob of over 100 BJP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers, some reportedly armed, stormed Sahajan’s residence in Shantipara late Sunday night around 11 pm, vandalised property, assaulted his parents, and physically attacked his wife.
“Sahajan Islam was targeted for his comments on the chief minister. His family members were not spared. This is a clear sign of lawlessness,” said Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Asish Kumar Saha at a press briefing.
Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman, who visited the site soon after the incident, reportedly faced strong resistance from BJYM supporters in the area.
Police later deployed a large force to bring the situation under control, as tensions ran high in the locality, which also houses the chief minister’s ancestral home.
The incident stems from a controversial Facebook Live session by Sahajan, in which he criticised the state government following a series of events during Eid al-Adha on Saturday.
His comments came after a mob allegedly stopped a vehicle transporting cattle near West Agartala Police Station, leading to communal tensions.
In his livestream, Sahajan launched a scathing attack on the chief minister, referring to his past career in dentistry.
“A man who has spent his life extracting teeth is now the chief minister. The police are acting in the interest of a particular community,” Sahajan claimed.
Congress leaders condemned the attack, calling it an example of political intolerance and misuse of power.
“The assault on Sahajan’s house and his family members reflects a breakdown of democracy in Tripura. Instead of engaging politically, the BJP responded with violence,” Roy Barman told reporters, demanding immediate arrests of those involved.
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Meanwhile, the BJP rejected the allegations and defended its actions, saying the Youth Congress leader had made derogatory and defamatory remarks against the chief minister.
BJP Sadar (Urban) district president Ashim Bhattacharjee confirmed that an FIR was filed against Sahajan.
“The comments made by the Congress leader are highly objectionable and an insult to the chief minister. We have lodged a complaint and are demanding his arrest,” Bhattacharjee said.
