Violence in Tripura bypoll: 16 detained for electoral offenses

Agartala, June 25 (DumaniMail) Tripura police have detained as many as 16 people from different locations of the city under preventive sections for their involvement in attempted electoral offenses during byelections to Bardowali and Agartala on June 23, police said in a statement on Saturday.
Superintendent of Police (West Tripura) B Jagadeswar Reddy said the accused persons were detained for the day and released later on, as there were no specific complaints lodged by any polling officials against them so far. However, police would revisit the footage and documents of the incidents to proceed further.
Tripura police in a statement said, “A few instances of atrocities by political rowdies upon senior citizens, media persons and common voters during the election in the city have been noticed in social media. But police couldn’t take any step against the perpetrators, as there were no complaints.”
Meanwhile, the opposition parties slammed the police for its alleged non-action against such violence even after 48 hrs of the incidents. All the incidents and attacks were carried out in broad daylight in front of police. As per the version of election authority, 420 CC cameras were operational across Agartala city and most of the incidents took place under the coverage of CC cameras, they stated.
“According to the statement of CEO the election process inside the booths was webcasted on real time basis; the activities of polling stations were videographed and outside the polling booths were under the coverage of CC Cameras installed under Smart City and other private institutions and individuals. Therefore, police can easily identify the criminals if they are impartial,” said leader of the opposition Manik Sarkar on Saturday.
He alleged that a policeman identified as Samir Saha was stabbed around 9 AM in Kunjaban Colony area of the city, in the proximity of the quarter complex of top bureaucrats and Director General of Police when he was going to cast the vote by four miscreants of ruling BJP after he had proceeded to vote defying their calls.
“I met Samir Saha in the hospital and got the full accounts of the incident. Unfortunately, police have not yet taken any action against the ruling party cadres who are easy to identify. Since, police are inactive towards their own colleagues just to make their political bosses happy, how can a common man get justice from Tripura police,” Sarkar questioned.
On the other, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) on Saturday has announced promulgation of Section 144 of CrPC in Bardowali and Agartala assembly constituency areas from Sunday morning until completion of the counting process apprehending breach of peace and tranquility during the counting of polls.