Vested interests trying to upset peace in Tripura: CM (Second Lead, Superseding earlier story)

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Thursday said that people with "vested interests" were through rumors and social networking sites trying to whip up ethnic tension in Tripura in the wake of the August 23 violent incidents here.

"The authorities would take stern action against them," Sarkar warned, speaking to reporters.

Urging people to maintain peace and communal harmony, the Chief Minister said that some people with "ill motives" were trying to tarnish the long-established peace, harmony and ethnic tranquility of the northeastern state.

The Chief Minister, after meeting the Director General of Police K. Nagaraj, addressed the media in reference to the August 23 violent clashes that left 24 people injured and 17 vehicles badly damaged.

The clashes occurred after members of a tribal party -- Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) -- attacked civilians, traders and vehicles indiscriminately without provocation.

The situation turned violent as hundreds of tribals owing allegiance to the IPFT took out a rally and attacked passers-by, including women, provoking retaliation by people of different community.

The Chief Minister said: "We have ordered a magisterial probe into the ethnic violence and asked the district magistrate and collector of west Tripura district to submit the report within one month."

"Central Para-Military forces are helping the state security forces to maintain peace and tranquillity. There is no fresh incident in the state since August 23," he added.

The IPFT has been agitating for the creation of a separate state, carved out by upgrading the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Area (TTAADC). Tribals constitute a third of Tripura's four million populations.

Opposition parties specially Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have demanded a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the Agarala incident and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting High Court judge.

The TTAADC was formed in 1985 by amending the Indian Constitution to develop the socio-economic conditions of the tribals. Of the 12.17 lakh population living in TTAADC areas, more than 90 per cent are tribals.

The IPFT's demand was rejected by almost all political parties, including ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

--IANS

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