TMC delegates restricted in Silchar airport, barred from entering Guwahati

An eight-member Trinamool Congress (TMC) team that arrived at Silchar today was restricted inside the Kumbhirgram airport as section 144, CrPC was in force in Cachar district, Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Kuladhar Saikia said.

The TMC leaders were barred from entering Guwahati in accordance with an order issued by city Police Commissioner Hiren Nath.

The team members -- six TMC MPs, an MLA and a West Bengal minister -- were not arrested so far and discussions with them were on, Saikia told reporters here.

Two women constables of Assam Police were injured during a scuffle with the TMC leaders, he said.

The TMC team is in Silchar at the instruction of party chief Mamata Banerjee to assess the situation in Assam in the wake of the publication of the complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

After the TMC leaders arrived at the airport, the district administration and police officials explained to them that they would not be allowed to come out as prohibitory orders were in force, Saikia said.

"They have sought time for discussions with their leader on their next course of action," he added.

An additional director general of police (ADGP), the deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, the district deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police "very respectfully" explained to the leaders that they would not be allowed to leave the airport as section 144, CrPC was in force, the DGP said.

"Peace, law and order cannot be allowed to be disturbed. The senior civil and police officials explained to the leaders that their going out for meetings will tantamount to violation of the prohibitory orders in force and it is the responsibility of the law enforcement authorities to prevent violation of law," Saikia added.

The authorities had already explained to the TMC team yesterday that prohibitory orders were in force and that it should not visit Silchar and disturb peace when it had informed the district administration of its visit to the Bengali-dominated town today to address meetings, he said.

"But the team members did not respond cordially and engaged in a scuffle with the security forces and other government staff. Two Assam police women constables and a civil staff were injured," Saikia said.

Banerjee had earlier alleged that the members of the TMC delegation, including women, were "manhandled" at the airport.

Asked if legal action would be taken against the TMC leaders for getting into a scuffle with the security personnel, the DGP said, "Two cases can be filed -- one for violation of section 144, CrPC and another for injuring the police personnel."