The West Tripura district administration imposed Section 144 in Agartala on Tuesday evening after at least 17 people were injured in clashes between activists of the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura and local residents in different parts of the city, reported PTI. The section of the Indian Penal Code disallows more than four to five people from gathering in an area. Superintendent of Police Uttam Bhaumick said the violence erupted after a group of people from an IPFT procession attacked local residents at Kaman Chowmuhai without provocation.
According to ANI, the clashes started when two women and a child were attacked by the IPFT supporters when the trio tried to cross the rally. Soon, locals residents retaliated. Police said attackers ransacked a few shops and set vehicles ablaze. Paramilitary forces had to be deployed to bring the situation under control.
The IPFT had undertaken the rally to mark the party's eighth Twipra land Statehood Demand Day, reported The New Indian Express. While tribals form one-third of the population, the rest non-tribal residents are considered as migrants. Leader of the tribal party Rajeswar Debbarma said scores of party workers and supporters were also injured in the clashes.
The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned the attack and said it was a “preplanned conspiracy to disrupt the communal harmony of the state”. The Bharatiya Janata Party, on the other hand, blamed the government for the clashes.
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