Law and order in Tripura has deteriorated drastically during the BJP government's eight-and-a-half years in office, CPI(M) State Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said. Democratic and constitutional rights were being systematically violated, he said, citing several recent incidents, including police preventing CPI(M) leaders from paying floral tributes to slain party leader Badal Shil at Chottakhola in Belonia on July 15 despite prior permission.

Addressing a press conference after the two-day CPI(M) State Committee meeting held on July 24-25 at the party's state headquarters, Chaudhury further alleged that ruling party supporters attempted to disrupt a CPI(M) deputation programme in Mohanpur on the day of the DGP's death. Chaudhury also referred to the assault on CPI(M) leader Sunirmal Das in Jirania, the attack on the CPI(M)'s Belonia subdivision office on July 22, and the burning of the house of CITU Kamalpur subdivision secretary Debashis Das earlier this month.

Besides political violence, he alleged that incidents of theft, robbery, rape, gang rape and abduction had become commonplace in the state.

ECONOMIC DISTRESS

Highlighting the state's economic situation, Chaudhury said thousands of young people were being forced to migrate outside Tripura in search of employment.

He alleged that villages and hilly areas were facing food shortages and accused both the central and state governments of failing to implement development schemes effectively.

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN POOR CONDITION

Criticising the condition of Tripura's road infrastructure, Chaudhury said the Agartala-Mohanpur-Khowai-Kailashahar-Dharmanagar national highway had become virtually unusable.

Referring to a visit by CPI(M) legislators to inspect the Khowai-Agartala road, he claimed officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) had informed them that some contractors had abandoned the work and fresh tenders would be required. He alleged that the roads were unlikely to be repaired for another two to three years and accused the government of institutionalising corruption in highway construction through commissions.

The CPI(M) leader also accused the government of failing to add any new electricity generation capacity and criticised the implementation of smart meters, alleging that consumers were being burdened with sharply increased electricity charges.

He also alleged a collapse in the education and healthcare sectors.

AGITATIONS ANNOUNCED

Chaudhury announced that the CPI(M) would organise protest meetings in Agartala and all subdivisions located along national highways to highlight the poor condition of the roads.

The party will also organise "Jail Bharo" programmes across Agartala and the subdivisions on August 10, demanding restoration of MGNREGA work and measures to control the rising prices of petrol, diesel and essential commodities.

He further appealed for a record turnout at a public rally to be held at Swami Vivekananda Maidan in Agartala on September 1 to mark the state conference of the All India Kisan Sabha, scheduled from September 1 to 3.

READY FOR LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Stating that the CPI(M) was fully prepared for the forthcoming Village Committee and Urban Local Body elections, Chaudhury expressed concern over the appointment of P K Chakraborty as the State Election Commissioner. He alleged that Chakraborty, whom he described as close to the chief minister, had been appointed after the removal of Manoj Kumar within six months of his appointment despite allegations of irregularities against him.

DEMAND TO PUBLISH ADC RECRUITMENT REPORT

The CPI(M) leader also demanded that the report of an inquiry into the recruitment of around 200 employees by the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) be made public. He alleged that the appointments had been made without advertisements or interviews and said a retired judge who conducted an inquiry had reportedly submitted a written report identifying irregularities. “The report should be placed in the public domain. Our struggle against corruption in the ADC will continue,” Chaudhury said. (END)

Tripura: CPI(M) Delegations Meet Governor, Seek HC Judge-supervised Probe into DGP’s Death

Rahul Sinha

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the CPI(M) Legislative Party separately met Tripura Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu on Monday, urging him to intervene and ensure that the investigation into the death of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar is conducted under the direct supervision of a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.

Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar led the CPI(M) delegation while Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury headed the delegation of Left legislators. Both submitted separate memoranda to the governor.

DGP Dhankar was found dead in his office chamber in Agartala on July 20. His death has triggered widespread speculation and raised questions among people in Tripura and across the country.

The CPI(M) alleged that contradictory statements made by Chief Minister Manik Saha and the director of the State Forensic Science Laboratory regarding the condition of the body at the scene had deepened public suspicion. While the chief minister had stated that he saw the DGP's body hanging when he reached the police headquarters, the forensic director reportedly said the body was lying on the floor when the forensic team arrived.

The party also questioned the state government’s decision to entrust the investigation to a special investigation team (SIT) headed by the West Tripura superintendent of police. It argued that the death of the state's highest-ranking police officer should not be investigated by officers subordinate to his position and expressed doubts about whether such a probe could inspire public confidence.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the governor, Jitendra Chaudhury described the DGP’s death as “highly abnormal” and alleged that the state government was attempting to portray it as a case of suicide. He said it was difficult for people to believe that an officer of Dhankar’s reputation, integrity and professional standing could have died under such circumstances in his own office while in uniform. Chaudhury said the office responsible for ensuring the security of the people had itself become the site of the mysterious death of the state's police chief.

The leader of the Opposition said the governor, as the constitutional head of the state, should intervene to ensure that the truth is brought to light through an independent investigation supervised by a sitting High Court judge. Chaudhury further alleged that a handful of senior bureaucrats wielded disproportionate influence over the administration and that honest officers were being sidelined and humiliated. He questioned whether the district-level SIT would be able to function independently in such an environment.

Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar reiterated the demand for a judicially supervised investigation, saying that the circumstances surrounding the DGP’s death could not be treated as an ordinary incident. He said Dhankar was widely regarded as an honest and dedicated officer, making it difficult to accept that he would take such a step while on duty and in full uniform inside his office. Sarkar said he had demanded a high court judge-supervised probe immediately after the incident and noted that several political parties and many citizens had since raised the same demand.

Expressing disappointment over the state's decision to constitute an SIT instead, Sarkar said there appeared to be an attempt to avoid a full and transparent investigation. He added that the government should have no hesitation in agreeing to an inquiry under the supervision of a sitting high court judge if it genuinely wished to establish the truth. According to Sarkar, the governor did not disagree with the demands placed before him and assured the delegations that he would examine the matter and discuss it with the state government.