TRIPURA: POST POLL VIOLENCE REPORTED IN THE STATE, LENIN’S STATUE BROUGHT DOWN

Clashes between Bharatiya Janata Party and Left supporters were reported across Tripura in the last 48 hours. CPI(M) offices were reportedly attacked in the state and a Lenin statue situated in the middle of Belonia town in south Tripura, was brought down by bulldozers. The CPI(M) alleged that bulldozers were brought in by BJP workers, demolished the statue amid chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. The cases include arson at CPI(M) offices at Sidhai area in West Tripura district and clashes between CPI(M) and BJP supporters at Kadamtala in North Tripura district. Three people have been arrested over the last 48 hours in Tripura, for what the police has described, as "post-poll' violence.

The CPI (M) tweeted, alleging workers of the Bharatiya Janata party were "spreading fear" in the state. Over 240 people have been injured in attacks on party offices and offices of Left-backed trade unions. The CPI(M) has alleged that supporters of the BJP and its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) were terrorising Left workers and vandalising party offices since the announcement of poll results on March 3.

Arson, attacks and loot were allegedly carried out across the state. Many rubber gardens, hundreds of small shops, were forcibly occupied, ransacked or burned at around 500 places. The CPI(M) has urged the administration and the BJP leadership to take adequate measures to stop these post-poll violence immediately. Meanwhile, three people have been arrested over the last 48 hours in Tripura, for what the police has described, as "post-poll' violence.

The BJP claimed that the CPI(M) workers, too, have beaten up several of its supporters many of whom had to be hospitalised. On a cautious note, the BJP has warned its leaders and supporters in Tripura of "stern" action if they indulged in "post-poll violence".