8 CPI(M) supporters injured in Tripura

At least eight persons, including two women, were injured near Khayerpur in Tripura when a group of people pelted stones at a bus carrying CPI-M activists, police said on Monday.

Secretary of the CPI-M's West Tripura district Committee Pabitra Kar alleged that 12 party activists, including five women, were injured when BJP supporters pelted stones at the vehicle, a charge denied by the saffron party.

The incident took place on Sunday when the CPI(M) activists were returning to Agartala after attending a party meeting at Khayerpur, 15 km from here.

An FIR was lodged at Bodhjungnagar Police Station on Sunday.

"When our activists were returning to Agartala, a group of about 40 BJP activists were following the bus and started throwing stones at the vehicle. Twelve persons, including five women, were injured.

"Nine people, including a tribal woman, were admitted to the GB Pant hospital here," Kar told reporters.

Sources in the hospital said, the condition of five persons was critical.

Sub-divisional police office (SDPO) of New Capital Complex area Dhruba Nath said, eight persons were injured in the incident of stone-pelting and many of them had been released from the hospital.

No arrests have been made in this connection, he said.

Prior permission of the police had been taken for the meeting, Kar said.

He alleged that BJP activists had let loose a reign of terror in the state and were attacking CPI-M supporters "without provocation".

Denying the charge, BJP spokesman Nabendu Bhattacharya said, no party worker was involved in the incident.