Tripura: Over 60 CPI-M tribal wing members hurt in attack by rivals

Over 60 members of CPI-M's tribal wing Tripura Rajya Upajati Ganamukti Parishad (TRUGP) were injured in separate attacks allegedly by another tribal-based party Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) at various places in Tripura on Tuesday.

The injured include women and a police official. Of the 60 injured, 11 TRUGP members were seriously wounded, who were admitted to the government-run medical college and hospital here.

"More than 60 members of TRUGP were injured when the IPFT cadres attacked them at about 12 places in different parts of the state," TRUGP President Jitendra Chowdhury told the media late on Tuesday night.

He said: "The IPFT members attacked the TRUGP men when the latter were coming to Agartala in vehicles from different places in Tripura to attend a rally here."

The IPFT cadres also burnt down at least two buses in which the TRUGP men were travelling, though no one was injured.

A police official said the police had to resort to lathi-charge in Champak Nagar, Tulasikhar and Champahaour in Western Tripura.

Prohibitory orders were promulgated in more than 10 places of West Tripura and Khowai districts.

The leaders of IPFT were not immediately available for their reaction.

The IPFT and the Twipraland State Party have been agitating for upgrading the existing Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council to a separate tribal state.

The TRUGP rally was addressed by Chief Minister and CPI-M politburo member Manik Sarkar, party President and Lok Sabha member Jitendra Chowdhury and other top party leaders.

--IANS

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