Tripura Violence: BJP workers attacked Pratibadi Kalam office, CPM offices set on fire

News Desk: Violence in the BJP ruling Tripura continues. It’s not only TMC leaders from West Bengal or the party workers of the state are victims of violence, but this time the office of a daily newspaper ‘Pratibadi Kalam’ became victim of political violence. Even CPM offices were vandalised and vehicles were set on fire.

BJP workers attacked Pratibadi Kalam office

BJP workers on Wednesday attacked the office of a daily newspaper, named ‘Pratibadi Kalam’. Four journalists got injured in the attack and vehicles were set on fire too.

Editor and Publisher of Pratibadi Kalam, Anal Roy Chowdhury filed an FIR. He said “They not only ransacked the premises, but they also destroyed our equipments and documents. Cars and bikes were set ablaze”

“I’ve never seen such a violent attack on media house like this before” he added.

The FIR filed by the editor says

“At least four Journalists were injured in the attack. All papers and documents, computers and CCTV cameras were destroyed while a huge contingent of police remained as silent spectators. The police did nothing.

The goons were armed with lathis and sharp cutting deadly weapons and one of our journalists, namely Prasenjit Saha, was hit on the back of his head by a sharp cutting weapon injuring him seriously”

The attack was condemned by many media houses, journalists and reporters. The secretary of the Agartala Press Club met police officials. After the meeting, he said “If the police do not arrest the attackers within 12 hours, we would launch massive agitations to get justice. The government must compensate the damage done”

CPM offices vandalised and vehicles set on fire

Political violence in the state also took place between the BJP and CPI(M) workers. It occurred when BJP workers took to the street to protest against an alleged attack on party cadres during former chief minister Manik Sarkar’s rally in Dhanpur on Monday.

It is also being said that trouble started at Udaipur town in Gomati district after CPM’s youth wing Democratic Youth Federation of India took out a procession and a few activists from the rally allegedly attacked a ruling BJP activist who was passing by, injuring him seriously. Police said a group of BJP activists, who were camping nearby, retaliated by attacking the DYFI procession.

A police said “Miscreants also vandalised the CPI (M) state office in the capital Agartala and set ablaze several vehicles parked outside. Similar incidents were reported from Sepahijala and Gomati districts as well”

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted “Fascistic assaults. CPIM offices across Tripura continue to be attacked by the ruling BJP. Thousands of party workers are injured, party properties destroyed, including houses of party leaders. Shall be resisted and defeated”

The TMC has also condemned this violence in the state. The national general secretary of the party, Abhishek Banerjee tweeted “Violence & Hooliganism is so ingrained in the BJP Tripura govt. that today the fourth pillar of DEMOCRACY was BRUTALLY ATTACKED! We stand in solidarity with the media fraternity and remain committed in our fight towards REMOVING the Duare Gunda Model of Biplab Deb from Tripura”