Eight persons, including two policemen were on Wednesday injured in a clash between two warring factions of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Silachari in Gomati district, 106 km from Agartala (Tripura). The skirmish took place at the inaugural event of a new building, which was to be attended by Minister of Agriculture Pranajit Singha Roy, who arrived after the clash occurred.
A report published in the The Indian Express quoted Karbook Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Kamal Debbarma as saying, “Eight persons including Officer-in-charge (OC) of Silachari Police Station Jayanta Malakar and Special Police Officer (SPO) Babulal Chakma were injured in the clash. They were later admitted to the Gomati District Hospital.”
The report further stated that an officer from the State police control room later said that the inaugural ceremony continued after a brief gap. The minister was unhurt during the clash. However, Agriculture Minister Pranajit Singha Roy denied reports of clash between two BJP factions and said that a section of Opposition supporters “conspired” to disturb the event and damage the image of BJP- Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) Government in Tripura.
“Some Opposition supporters tried to disturb the programme and damage the image of the State Government. But they are ending up in harming initiatives to reach good governance to the people”, he added.