Tripura Chief Minister Issues Stern Warning Following Violent Clash in Kailashahar
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha delivered a strong warning on Saturday against any attempts to disrupt peace and harmony in the state. This statement came in response to a violent clash that reportedly involved two factions of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with a few individuals from minority communities in Kailashahar, located in Unakoti district.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge from BJP Factions
The Hindu Jagaran Mancha, an organization led by local BJP leaders, organized a demonstration demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the violence. The group alleged that minority miscreants attacked BJP mandal president Pritam Ghosh when he visited the northern part of Kailashahar town. According to their claims, Ghosh had received information about religious instigation aimed at spoiling Saraswati Puja celebrations scheduled for Friday.
In a contradictory account, BJP Yuba Morcha Unakoti district president Arup Dhar firmly denied these allegations. Dhar filed a formal police complaint stating that miscreants led by Pritam Ghosh and Kailashahar Municipal Council vice-chairperson Nitish De carried out an unprovoked attack at his residence. He detailed that the assailants assaulted his wife and mother, vandalized his house, and damaged the local BJP booth office during broad daylight.
Allegations of Communal Coloring and Political Timing
Arup Dhar further alleged that the group responsible for the attack later attempted to give the incident a communal color. He suggested this was a deliberate strategy to cover up their actions and trigger tension within the district. Dhar pointed out that this violence occurred during Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia's visit to North Tripura to review ongoing development activities, implying possible political motivations behind the timing.
Additional Demands and Police Response
Later in the afternoon, another group of BJP activists led by Nitish De approached Kailashahar police station with a separate complaint. They alleged that miscreants, supported by influential persons, had illegally occupied a government quarter for over a year. The activists claimed this property was being used for illegal and anti-social activities and demanded its immediate demolition.
Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag addressed the situation, confirming that police have taken suo motu cognizance of the incident. He assured that those identified as responsible would be dealt with strictly according to the law. The DGP clarified that the clash occurred between two rival groups and stated that police are actively investigating the underlying reasons behind the violence.
Political Reactions and Calls for Non-Politicization
Chief Minister Manik Saha emphasized that those involved in the violence would not be spared under any circumstances. He urged all parties to refrain from politicizing the incident, stressing that maintaining law and order remains the government's top priority. "There will be no politics in such cases. Whoever is guilty will be punished," Dr. Saha declared firmly.
Kailashahar MLA and Congress Legislative Party Leader Birjit Sinha offered a different perspective on the incident. He characterized the violence as a result of internal conflict within the BJP, suggesting it stemmed from clashes between two BJP factions over contractor-related issues. Sinha explicitly rejected reports describing the incident as a communal disturbance, attributing it instead to internal party dynamics.
