Agartala: At least nine people were injured and several vehicles damaged when a group of Tipra Motha workers in Tripura attacked their ally, the BJP workers at Asharambari in Khowai district on Sunday, The Indian Express reported.
BJP tribal leader Bipin Debbarma claimed that ‘hooligans from the Tipra Motha party’, armed with machetes, axes, and country-made guns, attacked the BJP workers, who were listening to PM Modi‘s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program.
‘They intended to murder BJP supporters. At least 10 to 15 motorcycles were damaged in the incident, and two cars sustained heavy damage,’ Bipin Debbarma said.
An officer at the state police headquarters in capital Agarthala confirmed that nine people were injured in the attack, adding ‘A case will be lodged at the local police station and legal action will be taken’.
The BJP leader Bipin Debbarma further said that a detailed report on the incident was submitted to chief minister Dr Manik Saha and the party’ state Chief Rajib Bhattacharya.
Bipin Debbarma said the leaders have assured to take action against the culprits alongside providing treatment to the injured.
Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma criticized his workers for the attack on the BJP workers.
Sunit Sarkar, Media In-Charge, BJP Tripura unit, said that Tipra Motha minister Animesh Debbarma, who is also MLA for the area, would be looking into the matter.
Going live on Facebook, Pradyot Kishore said: ‘I don’t want political violence in Tripura. If tribals keep fighting each other in the name of flags, one day flags will be all that’s left, land will be lost. You can do politics two months before the elections. Till then, keep thansa (unity) as tribals… Politics of violence will not give us anything.’
Calling for unity among tribal communities, Pradyot Kishore said where Nagas are united across party lines, tribals in Tripura are not.
He also urged the BJP leadership to be cautious of former CPM workers joining the saffron party and trying to ‘foment a crisis’.
Later he told indianexpress.com that ‘Tipra Motha and the BJP should come together and fight against illegal immigration from Bangladesh and Myanmar.’