By TC News Desk
Agartala, 14th July 2024: In a poignant gathering, the CPIM state committee leaders and members on Sunday morning paid their last respects to Badal Shil, a candidate for the 3-tier Panchayat elections at the party’s state head office in Melarmath area here. The body was transported from GB Hospital to the party’s headquarters here at 8:30 AM and drew a significant turnout including former Chief Minister and Politburo member Manik Sarkar, opposition leader Jitendra Chaudhury, party leadership and hundreds of supporters who laid wreaths in tribute.
Addressing the media, CPIM state secretary Chaudhury emphasized the broader implications of Shil’s death, stating, “It is not just the death of an individual, but the continuous death of democracy in the state of Tripura.” He criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what he termed the “murder” of constitutional values, asserting, “The people of Tripura are witnessing this erosion daily.”
Chowdhury further lamented the BJP’s declining confidence, noting, “The party, which secured eighty percent of the votes just a month and a half ago, is now afraid to face the electorate in the upcoming panchayat elections.” He characterized the elections as a “farce” and a “mockery of democracy.”
Badal Shil met a tragic fate after being assaulted by miscreants following the submission of his nomination papers on Friday last. He was violently dragged from his shop and attacked with weapons, leading to severe injuries. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday afternoon at GB Hospital. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised serious concerns about the state of political violence and democratic integrity in Tripura.
