Agartala: Tension prevailed at Teliamura after violent clashes broke out between the supporters of Congress and BJP on Monday evening leaving several including a local TV journalist seriously injured.
BJP MLA from Teliamura, Kalyani Roy upon learning about the incident rushed to the spot and staged a Dharna before the police station that lasted for two hours demanding action against the CPIM and Congress supporters, who according to her, fuelled the trouble.
The Congress party on the other hand rubbished allegations labelled against it and said that their workers were attacked by the BJP in the first place and they retaliated in response.
Local sources said a heated altercation broke out between BJP Yuva Morcha supporters and the supporters of the Congress party surrounding a celebration that the Congress workers were hosting to mark the victory of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. During the celebrations, the Congress supporters were said to have hurled abuses on the BJYM supporters standing in close proximity.
The heated exchange of words soon took a turn of fist-cuffs and pitched battle between the groups. BJP General Secretary Teliamura, Gopal Barman claimed that a section of “over enthusiastic” Congress supporters blocked the road of BJYM workers and thrashed them. Barman accused youth Congress leader Bivas Das and Anirban Dhar of attacking the BJYM supporters. A case was lodged against both of the youth congress activists.
Also read: BJP, ABVP offices in Bengal allegedly vandalised by TMC workers
Meanwhile, Bivas Das debunked the allegations and accused the BJYM supporters of attacking him. “While I was going back home, a group of 20 to 30 people—all Yuva Morcha supporters attacked me and vandalized my motorcycle. When I tried to escape and had gone to a shop for hiding they traced me and thrashed me once again even vandalizing the shop”, alleged Das.
Upon knowing about the incident, a large contingent of police rushed to the spot of occurrence with TSR troops deployed in every nook and corner of the market. The police even resorted to a mild baton charge to hold control over the situation.
Later on, a local TV journalist Rahul Das was also assaulted by the Congress supporters. Sources said, after the incident when Das was going back from covering the political violence, a section of the Congress workers thrashed him and branded him as a “BJP man”. Das sustained serious injuries due to repeated blows.
As soon as the news spread, BJP MLA Kalyani Roy rushed to the police station and staged a Dharna demanding immediate arrest of Bivas Das. “A section of people with veiled political intentions were trying to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of Teliamura. It could not be tolerated”, she said while staging dharna and accused the Congress and CPIM of maintaining a clandestine pact for carrying out such activities there.
Meanwhile, the local scribes and members of the media fraternity also joined her in the agitation. After almost two hours the Dharna was withdrawn after police superintendent Khowai assured them of punitive measures against the accused persons.
However, there is still palpable tension in certain areas of the sub-division as miscreants have, reportedly, let loose a string of violent activities ransacking many houses in selected areas of Teliamura.
Also read: BJP worker killed in Sitalkuchi in West Bengal
Late in the evening, Youth Congress leaders led by veteran Congress leader and ex-minister Laxmi Nag alleged that Teliamura police refused to accept FIRs from the assaulted Youth Congress supporters and gathered in front of the police headquarters here in Agartala. By the time, the Congress supporters reached police headquarters it was closed.
Later, OC West Agartala police station reached the spot and convinced the Congress delegation to leave the spot. Youth Congress President Pujan Biswas and youth Congress leader Prasenjit Das demanded that they should be given an opportunity to meet the higher police officials which the OC agreed.
