Agartala, Oct 22: A Trinamool Congress (TMC) campaigning convoy that included the party’s Rajya Sabha MP Susmita Dev was on Friday attacked by unidentified assailants in the outskirts of Tripura capital city Agartala. TMC workers allege that the attack was perpetrated by BJP goons.
As per reports, Dev was campaigning in a car for the ‘Tripurar Jonno Trinamool’ (Trinamool is for Tripura) drive along with about 15 party workers and employees of I-Pac, the poll strategy consultant for the party led by Prashant Kishore, when they were allegedly attacked by BJP workers armed with batons at Amtali bazar in the outskirts of the city.
Taking to Twitter, the party’s Tripura unit shared videos of the attacks and said that the people of Tripura would give a “befitting response” to the attack, which it described as “barbaric.”
People of #Tripura will give a befitting response to this BARBARIC ATTACK!
Police must immediately stop acting as mere spectators. This collapse of law and order is unacceptable. WE DEMAND JUSTICE!#ShameOnBJP pic.twitter.com/700tdmRBM8
— AITC Tripura (@AITC4Tripura) October 22, 2021
Although Sushmita Dev sustained physical injuries, she was taken to the Amtali Police Station in West Tripura district where she lodged a complaint with the police.
Further, the TMC also alleged that Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb was behind the attack on its party members. “Once again @BjpBiplab proves that he CANNOT bear the presence of @AITCofficial in Tripura! His GOONS have BRUTALLY attacked us on the very first day of our campaign,” the party said in a subsequent tweet. “Why is @AmitShah silent? What about the safety and security of people in Tripura? Where is Democracy?” it asked.
Once again @BjpBiplab proves that he CANNOT bear the presence of @AITCofficial in Tripura! His GOONS have BRUTALLY attacked us on the very first day of our campaign.
Why is @AmitShah silent? What about the safety and security of people in Tripura? Where is Democracy? pic.twitter.com/pjQCuIhWvw
— AITC Tripura (@AITC4Tripura) October 22, 2021
TMC workers who were injured and took shelter at Amtali police station alleged that the CRPF jawans and police who were deputed there didn’t intervene and stood as “mute spectators”.
TMC’s efforts at making inroads in Tripura
Emboldened by its recent victory in home turf West Bengal by demolishing the BJP there, leaders of the Trinamool Congress have been frequenting Tripura over the past few months attempting to make inroads into the state ahead of the 2023 Assembly election.
Tripura is also up for municipal elections for various towns where the elections were halted due to Covid-19 restrictions. These elections are considered semis ahead of the all important Assembly elections.
Trinamool Congress has deputed its newly elected MP for Rajya Sabha, Sushmita Dev, to look after the party’s affairs in Tripura. She announced on Thursday that the Trinamool Congress will contest the upcoming civic body elections in Tripura.
Sushmita Dev said a final strategy will be formulated once the elections are declared.
