IPFT observes 24-hr strike in Tripura’s TTAADC areas over attack on party chief & revenue minister NC Debbarma

The Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has observed a 24-hour strike in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

The strike on Saturday was called in protest against the alleged attack on two MLAs including the party chief and revenue minister Narendra Chandra Debbarma in his own constituency on May 19 last.

It was alleged that supporters of TIPRA in the Jampuijala area showed black flags to IPFT supremo NC Debbarma and chanted “go back” slogans.

However, the police brought the situation under control and no one was attacked.

Meanwhile, on the morning of May 20 last, IPFT MLA Dhirendra Tripura was seriously injured in an attack.

Speaking with reporters, IPFT supporters told Northeast Now that they had to call for the 24-hour strike on Saturday in protest against the attack carried out on the IPFT president and revenue minister NC Debbarma and MLA Dhirendra Debbarma.

“We have appealed to the people to come forward against the barbaric attack on the leaders. Due to the pandemic and outbreak of Covid19, we have decided not to gather in large number and decided not to carry out any picketing,” the IPFT supporters said.

The IPFT supporters also said the senior indigenous leader was attacked by miscreants which cannot be accepted by the people.

“In protest against the attack on the IPFT leaders, the strike is being observed in 26 divisions of the ADC,” they added.

Additional superintendent of police Amitabha Pal said adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure that no law and order situation remains normal.

“The police and TSR jawans are deployed across the ADC areas. The goods and transport vehicles are moving as usual and so far, no untoward incident has been reported,” Pal said.

Reacting to the bandh called by the ruling ally, Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb told Northeast Now that everything is already closed and he does not want to do any politics in this regard.

“My party (BJP) does not believe in the culture of ‘bandh’ as it amounts to loss of both the public and government. I am in the government as the chief minister and IPFT is our alliance partner. We work together in consultation with the aim to develop the state,” Deb said.