BY TC News Desk
Agartala, December 29: The 12-hour bandh called by the TIPRA Motha Party, the primary opposition party in the scattered areas of Autonomous District Council (ADC) area passed off peacefully on Friday. The move comes in the aftermath of a series of violent confrontations between TIPRA Motha and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, spanning various locations, including Khumulwng, Takarjala, and Belbari.
Notably, the tension escalated when TIPRA Motha party workers reportedly launched an unprovoked attack on the Yuva Morcha organizational meeting at Govinda Hall in Belbari, resulting in six individuals sustaining injuries.
The strife continued as three motorcycles and an auto affiliated with TIPRA Motha were vandalized in the Khumulwng Syndicate. Additionally, the TIPRA Motha party office in Sonamani Para was set ablaze, further exacerbating the volatile situation. Allegations surfaced that Youth Morcha workers targeted residences of TIPRA Motha party members in Khumulwng, Belbari, and Takarjala.
In response to the escalating hostilities, TIPRA Motha Party workers, in collaboration with MDC Ganesh Debbarma of 17 Janmjaynagar-Pekuarjala, enforced a 12-hour bandh from 6 am to 6 pm on Friday, as directed by TIPRA Motha Supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarman. The bandh was observed in the ADC area, impacting daily activities.
Surprisingly, there was minimal response to the bandh, with reports indicating that normalcy prevailed despite the call for the shutdown. Nevertheless, protesters in Khumulwng staged a demonstration, blocking roads and demanding the arrest of the accused individuals within the stipulated 12 hours.
Further disruptions occurred as picketers blocked roads in Champaknagar and Jampuijala. Although a total of 19 ADC village areas were slated for the bandh, there was a lack of widespread participation. Shops and vehicular traffic were affected in mixed areas, with emergency services exempted from the restrictions. To maintain order, additional security personnel were deployed in the ADC areas from early morning onwards.
Fortunately, there are no reports of untoward incidents surrounding the bandh, as the region remains on edge amid the ongoing political clashes between TIPRA Motha and BJP.
