Tripura poll violence: BJP men beat CPI(M) man to death

Agartala: A CPI(M) member was beaten to death by BJP activists in Tripura, where violence has been raging after the Assembly polls. Dilip Shukla Das (55) was brutally murdered in Teliamura Baganbazar of Khowai district. The police's stance of not allowing the body to be placed in the party office for public viewing as well as the funeral procession, created tension.

Following the incident, police arrested BJP leader and Panchayat Pradhan Krishna Kamaldas. The victim's son Biswajit Das said that his father was attacked by BJP men while returning from the town after shopping.

The Tripura assembly election was on last Thursday. Shukla Das, attacked by BJP workers including on Saturday, was admitted to the hospital. He succumbed to serious injuries.

However, Khowai District Superintendent of Police Rati Ranjan Debnath claimed in a press conference that the incident was a result of personal enmity and attempts are there to give it a political colour.

CPI(M) State Secretary Jitendra Choudhary asked how the police made such conclusions before the investigation was completed. CPI(M) politburo member and opposition leader Manik Sarkar said that the police is yielding to BJP's pressure.

The police denied permission to take the body to the party office for public viewing. Following that, CPI (M) workers blocked Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital Road in Agartala city.

Meanwhile, Tipra Motha Party candidate MD Shah Alam Mia's car was attacked in Joypur on Saturday evening. The assailants attacked the vehicle with bricks and sharp weapons. Shah Alam's driver sustained neck and throat injuries while the car got badly damaged.