Shops were looted in the presence of the police. How are people supposed to keep faith in the police, asked Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A Muslim trader was killed and a mosque and several shops were looted, vandalised and torched during communal clashes in North Tripura’s Kadamtala area on Sunday night.
The clashes erupted when a Muslim family, on its way to a hospital, objected to being forced to donate money for the Hindu festival of Durga Pooja.
The deceased shop owner has been identified as Alfesani.
Seventeen other persons sustained injuries, some grievous, in violence that also saw several shops getting looted and vandalised, media reports reaching here said on Tuesday.
A video of the vandalised mosque that shows burnt religious books has gone viral on social media.
Prsenjit Debnath, a journalist based in Agartala, said that the clashes broke out when some Muslims were asked to donate for the Durga Puja.
“On October 6, an incident happened near Kadamtala market, a vehicle carrying Muslim passengers was going towards a hospital and the vehicle was stopped by some locals who demanded Durga Puja donations. There was an argument between them regarding donation and after that a large number of local Muslims came to the spot and the communal violence started,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
The police also opened fire and resorted to a lathi charge to bring the situation under control. On Monday, North Tripura district police took to social media to say that the situation was under control.
“The situation in Kadamtala is completely under control. Police is taking appropriate action. Please don’t spread rumour. #Kadamtala #NorthTripura @Tripura_Police,” said the police.
Eleven persons have been arrested, Superintendent of Police (SP) for North Tripura district, Bhanupada Chakraborty, was quoted by media reports as saying.
The arrests were made in three separate incidents on Monday. “In the first case, related to the coercive collection of Puja donations, two individuals were arrested. In a second incident, which occurred shortly afterward, one person was apprehended. Later that night, eight more individuals were arrested in connection with another clash,” Chakraborty said.
The official further informed that over 700 personnel from Tripura Police, Border Security Force (BSF), Tripura State Rifles (TSR), Assam Rifles, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed in the violence-hit areas.
“The situation is gradually returning to normal, with no fresh escalation reported on Tuesday,” he added.
Senior officials, including Additional Director General of Police (ADG) GS Rao, have been stationed in the area since the night of the incident. “We are doing everything possible to restore order. Regular flag marches are being conducted to reassure the public,” a senior official stated.
Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman pointed out that shops belonging to the members of the minority community were looted in the presence of the police.
“They (police) are not allowed to work freely. After tying their hands and feet, the police are asked to maintain law and order. I shall not blame them. Those who direct them are to blame. Shops of a community were looted in the presence of the police. How are people supposed to keep faith in the police? The chief minister, who is also the home minister, is responsible for this. He has to admit that he is a complete failure,” he said.
He also said some shops belonging to minorities were ransacked.
State Congress President Ashish Kumar said that the violence was a result of some people inciting to create a rift between the two communities.
“There has been an environment of fear across the state. We have been telling the police administration, CM, and other officials concerned that there is a conspiracy going on in the state, inciting tribals and non-tribals and sometimes between two communities to fight each other to gain political interest. I shall appeal to all sections of people to maintain peace.”
Jitendra Chaudhary, Opposition leader and CPI(M) state secretary, blamed two Cabinet ministers – Sudhangshu Das and Tinku Roy – for inciting people through social media posts.