TRIPURA | Tensions revive as mob gherao police station to free murder suspect; internet, SMS suspended

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Tripura: Mob gheraos police station to free murder suspect, police resorts to lathi charge, tear gas, blank fire; Internet, SMS suspended

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, October 05: Tension brewed up once again on Wednesday  as over 300 tribal men and women gheraoed Radhapur police station under Jirania sub-division demanding release of a murder suspect.

Traffic movement along Agartala-Khowai road resumed a fortnight after it was stalled due to pitched violence at Jirania, Champaknagar, Khumulwng areas between IPFT and GMP supporters. In less than a few hours, nearly 300 tribal men and women gheraoed Radhapur police station near Khumulwng leading to a clash with police that led to lathi charge, tear gas and blank firing before the mob could be dispersed.

In order to check further escalation of law and order situation, the state government imposed a temporary ban on Internet and SMS services for the next 24 hours – the third case in last 3 months. Tripura underwent 4 days of complete Internet blackout barely a fortnight back.

Jiban Debnath, a driver went missing on September 20 at Khumulwng. According to sources, two journos earlier travelled on his vehicle shortly before he went missing.

The police arrested Balendra Debbarma from Bashkobra area this morning under suspicion of his involvement in the missing of Jiban Debnath. He was initially detained from his home at 9 AM on Wednesday morning  for interrogation. After preliminary interrogation at the police station, he was arrested in the noon.

After the word spread, over 300 tribal men and women from his village gathered around Radhapur police station in the afternoon. The local administration imposed Section 144 in the area to check escalation of tension.

However, as the mob tried to make way through police personnel in the bid to get Balendra released, the desperate cops started lathi charge. After mild mob dispersion tactics failed, the cops resorted to firing tear gas shells and finally fired 5 rounds from firearms in the air.

IG Law and Order KV Sreejesh and SP (West) Abhijit Saptarshi rushed to the spot to bring situation under control.

Till latest reports came in, heavy deployment of police, TSR and CRPF personnel was made in and around the area.

Speaking to the media later, the Superintendent of Police admitted that there was an effort to make siege around Radhapur police station. He said that police officials and personnel initiated measures to disperse the mob.

Sources in the police said that arrested Balendra Debbarma was suspected to be an IPFT supporter. He is suspected to have been involved in the clashes that occurred between Gana Mukti Parishad supporters on September 20 and also in the case of driver Jiban Debnath gone missing.

When asked about his reaction on the issue, IPFT General Secretary Mewar Kumar Jamatia straightaway denied that Balendra was an IPFT leader.

"We are having thousands of people from different political parties joining IPFT these days. But this man is no leader of IPFT", Mewar claimed. He admitted that Balendra is a supporter of the party though.

Mewar condemned the police action on mob at Radhapur police station today.

"Tension is there already. I have been told that there were so many women there. They should have brought women police to start action on women protesters. This was most uncalled for. I condemn the police action", he said.

The IPFT leader denied allegations that the charge on police station was mounted by instigation from his party.

"We had nothing to do with the mob gathering in front of the police station", he claimed.

The CPI (M) has accused IPFT of instigating attack on police station and release a murder suspect.

According to sources in the police, Balendra was later shifted to East Agartala Police Station.

Representational image