Agartala, Sept 9: The investigation into the alleged attack by miscreants at five media houses in the Tripura capital city, Agartala including Pratibadi Kalam newspaper, the editor of which filed a police complaint on Wednesday, has been forwarded to the Crime Branch department for speedy investigation.
The case has been transferred to the Crime Branch immediately as in the FIR the editor of the newspaper Anal Roy Choudhury alleged that the incident happened in front of the West Agartala Police station personnel who remained as “mute spectators”.
Journalists demand arrest of culprits
A group of senior journalists led by Agartala Press Club secretary Pranab Sarkar and Ajker Fariad editor Sanit Debroy met IG Law and Order Arindam Nath in his office chamber on Thursday morning to press for the arrest of those responsible in the attacks on newspaper office.
Nath has assured that he will look into the matter and take necessary actions.
“Since CCTV footage are available the identification of the attackers will not be problem. The IG will visit the two newspaper offices on Thursday night,” a police source said.
CPI-M and BJP supporters clash
Wednesday’s clash came two days after a clash between CPI-M and BJP supporters at Dhanpur area in Sipahijala district, during which six persons including one BJP leader were injured.
On Wednesday, a fresh clash broke out between the long sparring opposition CPI-M and incumbent BJP supporters at Udaipur in Gomati district, Bishalgarh in Sepahijala district, and in Hapania and Agartala’s Melarmath area in West Tripura district during which at least 10 persons including four journalists were injured. Two CPI-M party offices have been gutted down and three media offices — Pratibadi Kalam, CPM mouthpiece Daily Desher Katha, a local TV channel PB 24 were also attacked.
Wednesday’s clash is believed to be the retaliation of September 7 clash, hours after which Tripura Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said BJP workers can respond to the Left in the “language they understand”.
