Reported by: Mrinal Banik
Agartala: The Tripura High Court on Friday directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure adequate police protection for Left Front candidates to enable them to file nomination papers without obstruction in the upcoming urban local body elections.
The direction came after the opposition CPI(M) approached the High Court alleging that its candidates were being prevented from filing nominations in Mohanpur and four other subdivisions of the state.
The party claimed that a lack of adequate security was preventing its candidates from reaching nomination centres and completing the filing process.
Hearing a writ petition moved by the Left party, Justice Sabyasachi Datta Purkayastha directed the DGP to take necessary steps to ensure that the concerned Left Front candidates could submit their nomination papers under police protection by Friday.
The court observed that candidates had the right to participate in the electoral process and directed the police authorities to ensure a secure environment for filing nominations within the stipulated deadline.
Senior advocate Tapas Datta Majumder appeared on behalf of the CPI(M) in the case.
The petition was filed against the backdrop of allegations by opposition parties of obstruction and intimidation at several places during the ongoing nomination process for the upcoming municipal and urban local body elections.