Reported by Mrinal Kanti Banik
Agartala: Tension gripped the Gamaria Village Committee area of Udaipur on Monday night after protests over the shooting of a Tipra Motha Party (TMP) candidate earlier in the day turned violent.
Gomati district Superintendent of Police Anirban Das was injured during the unrest, while the official vehicle of Udaipur SDPO Debanjali Roy was allegedly vandalised.
A large number of security personnel, including members of the CRPF and Tripura State Rifles, were deployed in the area to prevent further escalation.
According to police sources, the situation worsened after rumours circulated that the injured TMP candidate had died. Protesters allegedly pelted stones and vandalised property, targeting security personnel and government vehicles.
A group of protesters, many of them reportedly TMP supporters, also blocked the Udaipur-Amarpur road and demanded action over the shooting. Senior police and administrative officials reached the area and attempted to bring the situation under control.
The unrest followed the shooting of TMP candidate Khachindra Reang at Warengbari during an altercation involving supporters of rival political groups. Reang suffered a bullet injury to his waist, while two others, Chitrajoy Reang and Udayram Reang, were also injured in the clash.
Reang was initially taken to Gomati District Hospital, where doctors attempted to remove the bullet but were unsuccessful. He was later referred to GB Pant Hospital in Agartala for specialised treatment.
BJP MLA Ram Pada Jamatia visited Reang at the hospital and said the candidate was in stable condition.
“The patient is stable now. Doctors tried their best, but now he needs advanced treatment, which is why he is being referred to Agartala,” Jamatia said.
He said he had informed Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha about Reang’s condition and that arrangements would be made for his treatment.
Meanwhile, TMP leader and TTAADC Executive Member CK Jamatia said party workers had reported that three men travelling in a four-wheeler arrived near the polling station at Warengbari and confronted Reang and his supporters.
According to Jamatia, an argument broke out following the alleged confrontation and subsequently escalated into violence.
He said the party had provided police with details of one of the vehicles involved, but the identities of the alleged attackers had not yet been established.
While some local TMP workers alleged that the incident was linked to BJP supporters, Jamatia clarified that the claim had not been established and said he expected police to conduct a prompt investigation.
He also alleged that the individuals involved were outsiders.
Meanwhile, MDC Suraj Debbarma visited GB Pant Hospital in Agartala to meet Reang and take stock of his condition.