JOIN US Known as the Abode of Peace in the Northeast, the Communist-ruled Tripura on Tuesday saw violence when local non-tribals clashed with the members of a tribal political party.
Thousands of members of the tribal political party took out a rally in the state capital Agartala on Tuesday afternoon demanding creation of a separate Twipraland state carved out of tribal-dominated areas.
According to police sources, at least 25 people were injured, a few of them critically, after more than 20,000 tribal members of the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) took out a rally.
The members of IPFT blcoked people’s movement, which resulted in a scuffle. Soon there was a violent retaliation.
At least 25 people were injured in sporadic clashes after which Section 144 of the CrPC was imposed in Agartala.
A huge contingent of paramilitary force, Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and the police have been deployed in Agartala, police sources added.
Several vehicles were set on fire and business establishments were pelted with stones.
“The IPFT had permission for the rally. But things went awry. We took immediate action. Section 144 will remain in force though the situation is under control. A section of people are indulging in rumour mongering and trying to spark communal tension. We will take action against them,” said Tripura DGP K Nagraj.
One-third of the four million people in Tripura are tribals.