12,000 Congress workers detained in Tripura

Over 12,000 Congress party activists and senior leaders were Thursday detained by police in Left-ruled Tripura after they took part in a "civil disobedience movement" to protest the alleged misrule of the government.

"Over 12,000 Congress activists, including senior leaders and party legislators, were detained for participating in the 'civil disobedience movement'," west Tripura district police chief Bijoy Nag told reporters.

He said there was no untoward incident during the stir and the "civil disobedience movement" was peaceful.

Congress leader Ashish Saha said: "The agitation was massive and spontaneous. Congress supporters, including women, took part in the detention to protest the Left government's corruption and mis-governance."

"After the seventh Left Front government assumed office in March, the atrocities on women, misdeeds by criminals, corruption and other misgovernance have been intensified," Saha said.

"In the coming days, the Congress would further intensify the movement against the state government."

Saha said that despite thousands of teachers' posts in primary schools lying vacant, the government was not recruiting teachers for more than 17 years.

Congress leaders detained by police Thursday included state party president Diba Chandra Hrangkhawl, opposition leader Sudip Roy Barman, party legislators Birajit Sinha and Bishabandhu Sen besides Saha.

Hrangkhaw said the government has been ruling the state in an autocratic style.

"The state government does not even follow the judgments of courts," he stated.