Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, on Friday, asserted that miscreants have no political or religious identity and assured that criminals would be treated equally under the law.
He emphasised that no one involved in disrupting the state’s peace would be spared, adding that the police had been given full authority to act decisively against troublemakers.
The Chief Minister also dismissed the opposition’s allegations that the police’s failure to maintain law and order had led to communal violence and rioting in Kaitorabari of Jirania on August 25 and Gandatwisa on July 12.
Dr Saha made these remarks while responding to a calling attention notice jointly moved by CPIM legislators Islamuddin and Ramu Das, who sought his statement on recent incidents of arson, looting, and targeted attacks on innocent civilians.
“According to police reports, at around 9:30 pm in the night, tension began to escalate between two communities centering on the defacement of a Kali idol. No sooner had I received the information, than the police were directed to take proper action. A team of police led by SP West Tripura, Additional SP Rural, and SDPO Jirania rushed to the location,” the Chief Minister said.
Later, he said, people from both communities started to mobilise and at a certain point of time a scuffle erupted. Two motorcycles were reduced to pieces during the face-off.
“The Police reached there and dispersed the mob but unfortunately, the miscreants torched some houses, and private properties were damaged. In connection with the incident, SI Ganesh Debbarma registered a Suo Moto FIR,” he added.
Detailing the sequence of events, Dr Saha explained that the unrest began at 8:25 PM with rumors of the idol’s defacement spreading rapidly. By 9:30 PM, both communities had mobilised, and a scuffle broke out, resulting in the vandalization of five motorcycles. The police dispersed the mob, but further damage occurred before order was restored.
A police investigation revealed that a mob of 150-200 unidentified individuals had been involved in the arson and vandalism, affecting 16 houses, three motorcycles, and 11 vehicles. Three homes were completely destroyed. A total of five people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Dr Saha also informed the assembly of several preventive measures taken to avoid further escalation.
“We have convened peace meetings with the motive to instil confidence among the people of both the communities and laid stress on the peaceful co-existence in the society. In order to prevent rumour-mongering, district-wise monitoring cells have been established. Prohibitory orders under 163 of the BNSS were enforced in the area and later extended considering the prevailing situation. Adequate number of security forces have also been deployed in the area which included 17 sections of CRPF and 190 TSR troopers,” the Chief Minister informed the house.
Despite the government’s efforts, senior MLAs from the treasury bench expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s response. Leader of Opposition Jitendra Choudhari and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman criticised the police’s inability to act during the incidents.
“The Chief Minister has said that he is passing instructions for action but unfortunately on the ground, his instructions are not being followed. Please find out who is behind that,” said Leader of Opposition Jitendra Choudhari.
Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, on the other hand, said, “Five persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in arson and looting. Despite having such serious charges invoked against them, they walked out free in bail on the same day. This doesn’t speak well of the law and order situation. The miscreants will feel immune to police action and it will lead to a law and order disaster in the future.”
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