On the afternoon of February 11, Tarit Deb Barman, a BJP candidate of West Tripura’s Mandai constituency was driving around in a convoy of SUVs in a village called Raktia. About twenty five men and women, old and young, were brought from the nearby villages by the BJP workers to attend Deb Barma’s Patha Sabha (street-corner meeting). After speaking to me and my companion, an ace local journalist Vishnu Debnath, Deb Barma drove off deeper into his constituency Mandai. 

A middle aged man watched the convoy disappear in the hills. He is Gautam Rupini, a trader. He said that the BJP will not get many votes from the Mandai constituency, reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs). Mr Rupini explained that the people in autonomous tribal areas are worried about the Citizenship Act (2019). “No one will talk about it openly because people have obligations. Like my brother works in the Central Government. But that has not reduced his anxiety,” he said.

The concern about the 2019 Act in the North East in general and Tripura in particular is historical and complex. At the core of this story – how the indigenous communities of Tripura slowly became a minority – is a deep fear of defeat in the number game. 

While indigenous people constituted over 50 percent of the population in the 1901 census in Tripura, today only one-third (30 percent) of the population are from the community. That is, they are a minority which was the main cause of militancy in Tripura in the 1990s. The sentiment behind that 1990s movement to expel ‘Bengali immigrant-settlers’ seems to have returned to the tribal areas of Tripura bordering the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA), a social organisation turned political party in 2021, gave a call for a separate homeland – Tipraland – for the Tripuris, indigenous population, STs and general category residents to stop further loss of tribal land.

Radhacharan Deb Barma, CPI(M) Candidate

The main reason for this separate homeland call – politicians believe – is the passing of Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019 or CAA. CPIM’s long-time tribal leader, former chief executive member of the tribal council and Mandai constituency candidate Radhacharan Deb Barma said, “more than how reasonable or unreasonable the demand of TIPRA is, the point is BJP has managed to bring back the old fear of further loss of land.”

Precisely this fear had triggered both militant movements in the past and steered mainstream indigenous political parties to contest the polls in Tripura. 

The Tripura Tribal Youth Association was formed in the 1970s, as the number of Bengali refugees multiplied. Since then, almost in every decade, new indigenous parties have emerged in Tripura. They win seats by contesting elections independently and then merge with major non-tribal mainstream parties. Usually, within half a decade of coming to power in alliance with non-tribal parties, the tribal parties fade away and a new front emerges, like BJP’s 2018 ally Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) is now fading to make space for TIPRA. This phenomenon occurs in many hill areas and underscores a cardinal truth about the politics in tribal areas. It indicates people’s sentiment to protect identity and land remains in place for decades but the parties – which are often purchased – are replaced depending on the depth of their commitment to the cause. 

In 2023 the commitment was delivered by TIPRA, led by Tripura’s royal family chief Maharaja Pradyut Deb Barman. Tipra Motha Party (TMP) was floated was floated earlier in 2021. 

All the election posters of Tipra Motha are of Pradyut Deb Barman

Tipra Motha’s rise changed equations

The pressure that TMP’s rapid rise has put on the BJP on the one hand and the Left Front on the other, is evident from their respective poll promises. The BJP has practically accepted the TMP promise to form or at least move a few steps forward to form Greater Tipraland for the indigenous population. BJP promised in its manifesto: ‘Within the framework of the proposed 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill, we will restructure the TTAADC (Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council) to provide greater autonomy and additional legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers.’ 

Radhacharan Deb Barma said that the power given to the Autonomous Tribal Council is bereft of necessary constitutional reforms. Moreover, it is limited and partly ‘worn out’. Therefore the Left Front made its own promises. In a wall poster distributed in the tribal areas, the Left Front writes, “In the 125th Constitution Amendment Bill, there will be a strong fight for the supreme power of the Constitution for tribals’ land, language, economic-socio-cultural and public life of the tribals.” There is considerable doubt as to whether mainstream political parties in Tripura would have expressed their desire to reform the constitution and empower the Autonomous Council without TMP’s rise. This is the first major success of TMP weeks before the poll. 

Jitendra Chowdhury, the state secretary of the CPI(M) party in Tripura, said that there is no major difference between the Left and the TMP on the fundamental issues. “We have a difference of opinion on only one issue. That is, we do not support their demand for the creation of a new region or (state) division of Greater Tipraland. There is no difference of opinion with them on other issues, including social, development, employment related demands.”

However, the politics of Tripura like everywhere is connected to its history. Thus if any promises are made to the indigenous people of the land, it will be discussed threadbare among the non-tribals in the plains, especially the Bengalis. The promise has raised an eyebrow or too in the plains.  

Various aspects of Bengali-tribal politics in elections

BJP focussed on traditional Tripuri-Bengali divide in the polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have tried to address the sentiment of the Bengalis in the plains during their campaigns. The Prime Minister said, without naming TMP, that it was backing the Left Front-Congress alliance. Shah went a step further to say, “Congress and CPI(M) have done nothing for tribals. And now to get the votes of the tribals, an Adivasi has been put forward as a chief ministerial contender.” He was referring to the CPI(M) secretary Jitendra Chowdhury, a tribal leader. Tripura’s first and only indigenous chief minister was Dasarath Deb Barma, a legendary tribal-peasant front leader of first CPI and then CPI-M.

TMP leader Pradyut Deb Barman retaliated without naming the BJP. In a public meeting, he said, “Bengali-tribal, Hindu-Muslim – these differences do not exist in Tripura. The leaders are creating this divisions for their own benefit.” This – however – is not entirely correct. There is a latent tension between Bengali and indigenous population, but it rarely emerges as a major issue. 

A senior journalist of Agartala made an observation, perhaps worth remembering. 

The journalist said, “It is very much like the Hindu-Muslim politics of West Bengal, which is not always visible but exists under the surface. But when it comes to elections, a controlled brand of communal politics has been on the fore in West Bengal for years. So in Tripura, a Bengali-Tribal divide silently surfaces,” he said.

“But a big difference between here and West Bengal is that Tripura is a tribal state, which has become a Bengali one in the last 50 years. There is an anger among the tribals here and that anger has turned into fear due to the introduction of CAA,” he said. 

At the same time, “it cannot be argued with all confidence that TMP is not lending support to the Left-Congress alliance. TMP has not fielded a candidate against Jitendra in Sabrum (south Tripura seat), although there is a large tribal population there. Tipra has fielded a weak candidate against the CPI(M) in Mandai too,” the journalist argued. Both the Left-Congress and TMP oppose the Citizenship Act. TMP has also openly indicated that the BJP should not be ‘allowed to benefit’ by the division of votes. The opposition to CAA possibly has brought Left-Congress and TMP closer. 

The united opposition to the CAA is a cause of concern for the BJP

Indigenous people fear that if this law is implemented, the ‘settlers’ will get a right to buy land and settle in tribal areas. Radhacharan indicated, while tribal land cannot be purchased by the non-tribals, yet the fear has its basis. “If non-tribals purchase land next to a tribal one, the pressure on tribal land and population will increase. This is the fear,” he said. 

The Mandai candidate of BJP did not want to comment on the matter. 

“CAA is a national factor. Our national leadership and central government are looking into the issue. Besides, CAA was once an issue. The issue now is development. People want development, and the BJP has told us that larger tribal councils will be created to focus on the problems of the residents. As a result, the speed of development will increase,” said Tarit Deb Barma. The candidate was escorted by a central envoy of the BJP, Kiran Pal Singh from Uttar Pradesh. 

Mr Singh was seen coaching Deb Barma about ‘do’s and don’ts’ during a campaign. Mr Singh said, “the tribals are very simple minded people, they are being divided, people are trying to take advantage of their simplicity.” Mr Singh said that local inhabitants are ‘confused’ by the opposition who are pushing CAA as an issue. 

BJP is not at ease in the 2023 assembly elections in Tripura. In states where the BJP comes to power, they usually do not lose within the first five years, rather they consolidate. In Tripura, BJP appears to be way more wobbly than in other states. BJP’s state officials were candid to indicate that ‘crude in-fighting and appalling four years of former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb’ are responsible for the apparent set back. If BJP loses in Tripura, it will be a historic turnaround of the Left Front and Congress alliance. 

Nonetheless, a week before the results on March 2, it is supremely difficult to predict the results in Tripura. BJP has spent an outstanding amount of money, the poll process was overseen and managed by Assam Chief Minister Himanata Biswa Sharma, a leader with an enviable record of managing elections, and BJP’s national leadership. It will thus be an inordinately difficult task to defeat BJP in Tripura. 

TMP, however, expects to bag a dozen out of 20 ST seats. If so, Maharaja Pradyut Deb Barman will emerge as a new face of the indigenous people of the North East and pose a challenge to BJP’s Himanta Biswa Sharma, who is now considered as the main face of both the indigenous and the non-indigenous people of the North East.

This story is turned around from Bangla, first published by Prothom Alo. Reporter: Suvojit Bagchi’.

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The  All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has urged the Supreme Court of India to postpone the counting of votes of Tripura’s municipal elections that were held on November 25. The AITC has alleged that Supreme Court’s orders for “free and fair municipal elections were violated” adding that “people were not allowed to vote” and sought a probe by the court-monitored panel. The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on November 28. This is the first civic poll that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contested after coming to power in Tripura in 2018, and it refuted the charges accusing the Opposition of “trying to obtain public sympathy fearing defeat.” 

On Friday, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared before a Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna, and said that the SC’s directions mandating deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and ensuring unhindered access to the media were not complied with. He was quoted in media reports saying, “No two battalions of CAPF, No two constables are provided. Media was to be given unhindered access. It is mayhem there,” he added there was “electronic media evidence from Times Now showing Supreme Court orders are not being followed” 

Sibal has filed a fresh application seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention in connection with the Tripura Municipal elections and stated, “your Lordships yesterday directed that it is important that both electronic and print media should have unhindered access for full reporting and coverage of the election process. We have Times Now and other print media saying that the SC order has been violated! Candidates were not allowed to enter the booths! No 2 constables, no 2 battalions of CAPF were provided! There is complete mayhem!” He said “What has transpired is horrendous! We have photos of people on the ground showing that the SC order was not followed! It is very serious that is why I am mentioning! Results are to be declared! If today is not possible, please take it up tomorrow though it is a Saturday”

On Tuesday, The Supreme Court  had turned down a plea made by All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) to postpone the Tripura local body elections, on account of political violence in the state. The bench was hearing a contempt petition filed by AITC and its Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev alleging non-compliance on the part of Tripura authorities of the order passed by the Supreme Court on November 11 to ensure free and safe atmosphere for political campaigning for the local body elections.

On November 25, the polling day a bench comprising Justice DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath had passed a slew of directions to ensure the presence of Central Armed Police Force personnel in each of the 770 polling booths in the state. The DGP and the Secretary of Home Department of Tripura were directed to review the security situation and to requisition additional battalions of CRPF if needed. It was also directed by the SC that the media should be given unhindered access to cover the election process. 
 

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The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, turned down a plea made by All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) to postpone the Tripura local body elections scheduled on November 25, on account of political violence in the state. The bench was hearing a contempt petition filed by AITC and its Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev alleging non-compliance on the part of Tripura authorities of the order passed by the Supreme Court on November 11 to ensure free and safe atmosphere for political campaigning for the local body elections scheduled on November 25.

In the contempt petition, the AITC has alleged that the situation in the State is “worsening by the day”.  Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for Trinamool Congress, submitted that even after the Supreme Court direction, the security situation in Tripura has worsened, and the attacks against the party workers were going on, reported Live Law. He submitted that AITC member Shahini Ghosh was attacked during the campaign and a criminal case was registered against her. He said, “Political workers are being driven out. Kindly consider how much effect will it have on voters. Will the voters come out? We are asking for a committee of observers.”

The Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Vikram Nath also took serious note of the incidents of political violence in the run up to the municipal polls in the state, and has issued directions to the state and police authorities. “Instead of postponing the elections, the apprehension which has been expressed on behalf of the petitioners by Senior Counsel, can be redressed by issuing peremptory directions to the State of Tripura to ensure that (i) the remaining phases of the municipal elections take place in a peaceful and orderly manner; and that (ii) reports of the breaches of law and order which have been drawn to the attention of the law enforcing agencies are duly dealt with in accordance with law,” the court ordered.

“Postponing elections is a matter of last and, even extreme recourse. Judicial interdiction of the electoral process has grave implications for a democratic polity. Article 243 O, Article 243ZG and Article 329 underscore a constitutional principle, which emphasizes the sanctity of the electoral process,” said the Bench.

The Bench also asked the State of Tripura to give details of security arrangements in place for polling and counting of votes and during the hearing had asked if Central Armed Forces were deployed, and asked the state to inform it about the arrangements in place for safety and security for polling booth, staff, up to declaration of results. According to news reports on Bar and Bench when it was informed of the number of troops deployed, the Court ordered, “…a requisition shall be submitted to CRPF or the Home Ministry. Any such request will be duly considered having regard to situation to maintain peace in conducting free and fair polls in Tripura.” 

It also told the State to submit “tabulated data” on the complaints made, steps taken on the same and whether FIRs have been registered, and said, “It is duty of the DGP, IGP & Home Secretary to assuage any misgiving of law enforcement machinery in supporting the electoral process. Law enforcement agencies must discharge duty in a non-partisan and non-biased manner and allay apprehensions that political adversaries are being targeted.”

The contempt petition filed by AITC had alleged that violence against its party workers is continuing unabated in Tripura, and false cases are being filed against them by the ruling BJP government, stated the news report. Appearing for the State of Tripura, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, said that this was a “a politically contrived matter. Same prayers were raised in Tripura High Court. The High Court issued notice in September and made it returnable on October 7. They come here on the eve of elections. Today is the last campaigning day. Polling is on 25th. Suddenly they come up with string of incidents. We have a compliance report.”

However, the Court has come down heavily on the state and said, “When an MLA is assaulted in a public rally and if a statement is made on affidavit, we have no reason to disbelieve it. Tell us who is in charge of security for these elections.” According to the report, AITC had earlier filed a petition seeking protection from violence against its party workers in Tripura in view of the municipal elections. The party had submitted that “ever since it began campaigning for polls, its workers have faced violent attacks from goondas in a bid to prevent the party from contesting the elections”. On November 11, the SC passed an order directing State authorities to ensure that law and order is maintained and no political party is denied its right to political campaigning in the State.

“While we are not inclined to accede to the prayer for postponing the elections for the reasons indicated earlier, we are equally of the view that it is the duty of the Director General of Police, the Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) and the Home Secretary of the State of Tripura to assuage any misgivings about the fairness of the law enforcement machinery in supporting the electoral process. The law enforcement agencies must discharge their duties in an even handed and non-partisan manner to obviate the grievance which has been urged before this Court that candidates and supporters of the AITC are being unfairly targeted by contesting political groups,” the court added.

The Court issued these directions:

(i) The Director General of Police and the Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Tripura shall hold a joint meeting with the State Election Commission no later than by tomorrow (24 November 2021) morning for the purpose of assessing the requirement of a sufficient strength of paramilitary forces drawn from the CRPF for ensuring the peaceful conduct of the remaining phases of the elections;

(ii) After making an assessment of the situation on the ground, if so required, a requisition shall be submitted to the CRPF or, as the case may be, to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Any such request shall be duly considered having regard to the situation and in the interest of ensuring peace, security and the orderly conduct of elections in the State of Tripura on 25 November 2021;

(iii) The Director General of Police and the Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Tripura shall take all steps to ensure that the election process is conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner and without any disruption, particularly, on the date of polling which is to take place on 25 November 2021, leading up to the counting of ballots on 28 November 2021; and

(iv) Since a serious grievance has been expressed on behalf of the petitioners that despite the lodging of FIRs, no action has been taken by the law enforcing agencies, the respondents shall submit before this Court a statement of (a) the complaints which have been lodged; (b) the FIRs which have been registered; (c) action which has been taken against those who have resorted to violence; and (d) arrests that have been made. The tabulated statement shall be submitted, together with the compliance affidavit, which has already been directed to be filed by this Court, by its previous order dated 11 November 2021.

The court has also sought a compliance affidavit from the respondents containing detailed elaboration of the steps which have been taken to:

(a) preserve law and order;

(b) ensure security for political workers, voters and contesting candidates;

(c) protect the electoral process leading up to the counting of votes and the declaration of the results; and

(d) deal with criminal offenders in accordance with law.

The petition will next be heard on November 25.

The complete order may be read here:

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“I came here from Kolkata to report. They have beaten me up mercilessly with sticks… I need to drink some water… Please give me some water brother,” wounded journalist Ali Akbar Lashkar, 27, is in obvious pain and shock as he sits outside the police station with a wound on his forehead. “Look how they have beaten me, cracked my skull. I don’t know if I will survive, democracy has vanished,” says the journalist who works for the Kolkata-based Bengali news portal Ab Tak Khabar.

He had come to Tripura on Sunday morning, to report on the situation in the state, after TMC leader Saayoni Ghosh, was arrested and accused of criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder on Saturday night. “I have come to Tripura for the first time and I was attacked… imagine how scared the locals must be,” he said, even as colleagues from other news organisations recorded his words on camera.

He is a journalist from #Kolkata who has been brutally attacked in #Tripura. Listen to his testimony. He claims goons assaulted him with sticks & batons. Strongly condemn this attack on media. Isn’t this attempt to murder? The man is bleeding, says “democracy is under attack” pic.twitter.com/bqHRskUdgw

— Tamal Saha (@Tamal0401) November 21, 2021

Lashkar was among the three journalists who were allegedly beaten up in Tripura while reporting outside a police station, reported Newslaundry quoting him as saying, “They asked me which news channel I am from, and when I responded, they called me a dalal (broker) and started beating me.” He was allegedly assaulted outside the East Agartala women’s police station in Tripura West, where he had come to get an on camera quote from Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh. According to NL, a woman journalist was heckled here too. Lashkar said he and other reporters were waiting to interview Kunal Ghosh about Saayoni’s arrest, and saw “a group of nearly 200 people, many wearing helmets and carrying hockey sticks, rods and laathis, heading towards the police station. They started beating up people outside, including the TMC workers, entered the police station and started breaking things inside, even beating up police personnel. “My head and eye started bleeding badly and my body has multiple wounds,” he recalls. However, he does not know the people who beat him up.

According to the news report, his colleague Mamoni Bhattacharya, who was also surrounded by the mob said they “gathered around me and they broke our boom mic into three pieces.” Lashkar added that the local police dropped them to the hospital and left. He told NL that later some people reached the hospital and asked him if he worked for the TMC. “I told them ”Why are you asking such questions, I’m just a reporter, here to do my job?’”. The two journalists reportedly hid in  the hospital washroom, for nearly an hour after which they were escorted by a friend who took them back to their hotel, reports NL.

The two other journalists who were reportedly also attacked were Miltan Dhar and Bapan Das, who work for news portals News Vanguard and Times24, respectively. According to the NL report, Bapan was trying to escape when the mob arrived, and was hit on his head. Miltan who was also similarly injured said, “In this whole matter between the two political parties BJP and TMC, we are being sandwiched while doing our job.”

Media has been under constant attack in Tripura

The portal Tripurainfo says, “Media has been under constant attack since Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb threatened to take over the state media on September 11, 2020.” The Press Council of India had demanded an explanation from the Tripura government on allegations of attacks on journalists made by the Assembly of Journalists (AOJ), who had alleged that over 20 scribes were attacked in Tripura, after Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb’s controversial remarks on September 11, 2020. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had said that a section of “over-excited newspapers” were “trying to confuse people” over Covid-19 and added that “neither history nor I will forgive them”.

In fact, the situation of journalists from the state, and of those who have come to the state to report, seems to mirror what journalists face in Uttar Pradesh or even Kashmir. In both BJP governed states and the Union Territory, journalists have been targeted in various ways for doing their jobs. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked India at 142nd position out of 180 countries in its 2021 World Press Freedom Index. In India journalists have been easy targets for complaints and FIRs being lodged against them for various reasons, most commonly, just for doing their jobs as reporters and editors. History continues to repeat itself in Tripura. This latest attack on the media reporting on the ground in Tripura, is not the first this year. 

In May, the residence of Tripura’s veteran journalist and vice president of the Assembly of Journalists (AoJ), Samir Dhar, was attacked. According to a report in The Wire, it was the third such attack on Dhar’s house since 2018, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was voted to power in the state. The AoJ, had issued a statement, saying, “The miscreants, known as supporters of the ruling BJP party, entered the area on Saturday late night at around 9 pm with sharp weapons and carried out the attacks. They vandalised the boundary walls of Samir Dhar’s residence and also abused him using obscene language and threatened him with dire consequences.” 

According to East Mojo, till June 2021, as many as 24 cases had been registered in different police stations across eight districts for attacks on journalists since 2020. The assistant inspector general (AIG) of police (law and order) Subrata Chakraborty had said in June that the Director General of Police (DGP) has taken note of the increasing incidents of violence against journalists and media persons “and the failure of the police to take action against the perpetrators of such crimes.”

In September 2021, a mob, led by alleged BJP members had attacked the office of Pratibadi Kalam, a vernacular daily, and injured at least four journalists. According to a report in NDTV, the mob had also ransacked the premises of the daily in Agartala, destroyed equipment, documents, and set cars and bikes ablaze. A police case was then filed by Anal Roy Chowdhury, Editor and Publisher of Pratibadi Kalam.   

Media has been under state scanner too in Tripura

However, not all attacks are by mobs of miscreants, in another similarity with UP, Delhi, Kashmir etc., the media is also under the state’s scanner and is vulnerable. Most recently Associate Editor of HW News English, Arti Ghargi, who did the voiceover for a video, has been summoned by Tripura police for questioning in the town of Kakraban in south Tripura, reported Article 14 . 

This is just days after HW News reporters Samriddhi K. Sakunia and Swarna Jha, returned to Delhi after they were granted bail. They had been arrested on Sunday, November 14, from Assam after covering the recent violence in Tripura. They were detained in Assam on Sunday after a case was filed against them by the Tripura police for “spreading communal disharmony”. According to news reports, they are now expected to return to Tripura this Friday, November 26 Nov, to join the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, it has taken a Supreme Court of India order that “no coercive steps should be taken” against that the two lawyers who were part of a fact-finding team that visited Tripura to investigate the communal violence that broke out in the state in October, and journalist Shyam Meera Singh who had written a social media post about the violence to remain free. They had all been booked under the draconian anti-terror law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by the Tripura Police for posting their opinions on social media, related to the recent communal violence in the state.

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The post Tripura: Journalists still make headlines for surviving attacks, rather than reporting them appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Nagrik Adhikar Manch (NAM) and the All India Lawyers Union (AILU) have been supported by nearly 700 signatories on their petition demanding that the Tripura Government “stop communal violence” and “stop persecution of lawyers and citizens against communalism.”

The online petition advises against invoking sections 153A/153B/469/ 471/503/504/120B and Section 13 of ULAP Act, 1967 (UAPA Act, 1967) by the Tripura government against the Delhi based lawyers who visited areas affected in communal violence for their facts finding report. Members of Lawyers For Democracy, were booked by the Tripura Police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly sharing fake information, on social media, as were Twitter users who were accused of posting “distorted or objectionable” content about the alleged Mosque vandalism in the state. The social media handles have also been booked under stringent UAPA.

The group of lawyers had, after their visit to the violence hit areas of Tripura, investigated and released their fact finding report simultaneously in Agartala and in New Delhi on November 1. On Wednesday, November 3, Tripura Police sent notices under UAPA to two of the lawyers who were part of a fact-finding team that visited the northeastern state to investigate the communal violence that broke out there in October. They have since then been supported by many citizens groups who have spoken out in solidarity. The NAM and AILU have, in their statement, called these actions an attempt at “silencing the citizens and advocates from even investigating facts regarding communal violence perpetrated by the VHP and Hindu Jagran Manch and Bajrang Dal on the people of minority Muslim community.” The statement has been signed by eminent writers, rights activists, artists, including Subhashini  Ali, Syeda Hameed, Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Kavita Krishnan, Neelima Sharma, Sadaf Jafar, Shabnam Hashmi, Shamsul Islam, Suresh V, as well as over 600 concerne citizens from  across the country.    

The online petition states, “Political leaders who enter the portals of power after swearing in the name of Constitution undertake to wreck it from within by sabotaging the Constitution” adding that a “statement in protest against failure of the police and civil authorities in curbing violence is part of the democratic process” and that “reporting and protesting against communal violence and insisting for Rule of Law cannot by any stretch of imagination attract UAPA, sedition or any other criminal Charge/ offences slapped on the members of the fact-finding team.”

The NAM and AILU say that they “find that a pattern has been devised by the Government headed by BJP at the Center and in the states to use stringent legal provisions like UAPA and Sedition against dissenters and social activists to suppress their democratic freedom of speaking against injustice, misrule and failure of the political leadership to deliver.” They have called upon the west Agartala police to “withdraw the charges of under section 13 of (punishment for unlawful activities) of the UAPA and other offences reportedly slapped against Delhi-based members of the fact-finding team” and also “recall the notice sent under section 41 of the code of criminal procedure mentioned these IPC offences as well-Sections 153A/153B (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.), 469 (forgery for purpose of harming information), 503 (Criminal Intimidation), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke the breach of peace) and 120B (Punishment for criminal conspiracy) against the lawyers.”

The online petition maybe viewed and signed here: https://forms.gle/gqN5wDNpzWKMghzP6

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Tripura violence: Delhi-based lawyers booked under UAPA over social media posts

The post Stop persecution of lawyers, citizens against communalism in Tripura: Citizens and Lawyer’s groups appeared first on SabrangIndia.

News from Tripura continues to report incidents that have the potential to lead to “breach of peace”. Section 144 has been imposed in Laxmipur and Kailashahar, after a group of unidentified miscreants allegedly vandalised a Kali temple in Kailashahar’s Kubjhar area under Laxmipur Gram Panchayat on Friday. According to EtvBharat this alleged vandalism sparked off tensions in the area and members of Hindu Jagaran Mancha and Hindu Yuva Bahini met the office of sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Kailashahar Chandan Saha “demanding the immediate removal of officer-in-charge (OC) Partha Munda, who allegedly failed to ensure proper security to the temple.” 

ABVP leader allegedly attacked in Kailashahar 

In a separate incident, an ABVP leader was allegedly attacked in Kailashahar on the same day, reported EtvBharat. On the other hand, ABVP leader Shibaji Sengupta was injured, allegedly by a group of student leaders affiliated with Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and NSUI reported EtvBharat.

Shibaji Sengupta said that he had gone to check out information that some “student leaders of opposition parties were threatening the students of RKI school, Kailashahar” and there he reportedly “got involved in a heated altercation that later took a turn of physical assault and fistfights.” It was then that he was allegedly stabbed from behind, and could not see his attacker. He was referred to GBP hospital Agartala. District Magistrate Unakoti District Uttam Kumar Chakma told the media that the accused have been arrested and section 144 imposed in the area.

Citizens for Justice and Peace writes to National Commission for Minorities 

As anti-Muslim violence flares in Tripura, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has written to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) over the targeted attacks. Over the last few days, mosques have been allegedly vandalised by right-wing groups. Further, shops and houses owned by Muslims have also not been spared by these mobs who are allegedly carrying out attacks as a retaliation to the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

During the Durga Puja festival in Bangladesh, incidents of vandalism were reported from Hindu temples which led to aggravated violence that left three people dead and dozens injured. The Bangladesh government was forced to deploy paramilitary forces in 22 districts. After this news surfaced, Tripura has been seeing “outbreaks of retaliatory targeted violence” where Muslims are being targeted and certain homegrown extremist groups are taking the law into their own hands. Muslim families have been living in fear and distress over the past few days. Over 15 mosques have been reportedly vandalised and shops owned by Muslims have been ransacked by goons.

Tripura High Court takes suo motu cognisance

The Tripura High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the various reports of anti-minority violence in the state, and has asked the government to file its response by November 10. The court took note of the violence reported in various newspapers on October 26 in the districts of North Tripura, Unakoti as well as Sipahijala. The order read, “We direct the respondents [government] to file further affidavits before this Court on or before 10th November, 2021 specifically dealing with preventive measures they had taken or what is their plan of scuttling the design of stoking communal passion or to perpetrate in the violence.”

Related:

Anti Muslim violence in Tripura, HC takes suo motu cognisance
Delhi: Students, activists detained for protesting Tripura violence
Panisagar mosque safe and secure: Tripura Police
Tripura: Right-wing mobs vandalise mosques in response to the attack on 

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Delhi Police have detained students and activists who were protesting the outbreak of communal violence in the state of Tripura by holding a demonstration outside Tripura Bhawan in the National Capital. According to information shared by student groups who were at the protest, the students were detained from Tripura Bhavan and taken to Mandir Marg Police Station. Students alleged that they “were brutally lathi charged and pushed into buses standing ready to detain protesters.”

Activist Aysha Renna, posted that the student groups and activists were detained for protesting “the Hindutva violence in Tripura. Police confiscated our posters which said #Muslimlivesmatter and said it is illegal.”

We are Detained by Delhi police from infront of #Tripura bhavan while protesting against the hindutva violence in Tripura. Police confiscated our posters which said Muslimlivesmatter and said it is illegal. So calling for violence against muslims is legal but dissent is illegal.

— Aysha Renna (@AyshaRenna) October 29, 2021

The protestors, according to Maktoobmedia, belong to Fraternity Movement, AISA, SIO, NSUI, CRJD, MSF, KYS, RWPI, and NEFIS, and were joined by the city’s citizen collectives. 

The protesters were demanding the Tripura CM’s resignation and reportedly carried placards that read, “Stop attacking minorities” and “State-sponsored attack on Muslims must end.”

Related

Panisagar mosque safe and secure: Tripura Police
Tripura: Right-wing mobs vandalise mosques in response to the attack on 

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Days after right-wing mobs reportedly vandalised as many as six mosques in Tripura, claiming the attack to be a “retaliation for the anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh,” communal unrest continues to be reported from various parts of the state. However, police have now clarified that the mosque in Panisagar that was rumoured to have been burnt down, is actually “safe and secure”. Police even tweeted pictures from the location:

Tripura Police appeals to all not to spread rumours.
Below are photographs of masjid in Panisagar. It is evident that masjid is safe and secure. pic.twitter.com/kp1oCEBa8T

— Tripura Police (@Tripura_Police) October 28, 2021 

Tripura Police further appealed to the public “not to spread rumours regarding the Panisagar incident. Please do not retweet or like the social media post without verification since it amounts to endorsing the view.” They added that the situation “is under control.”

Tripura Police appeals to all not to spread rumours regarding panisagar incident. Please do not retweet or like the social media post without verification since it amounts to endorsing the view.
Law and Order situation is under control in the state.#Tripura pic.twitter.com/WdOip4fyc1

— Tripura Police (@Tripura_Police) October 28, 2021

SabrangIndia had reported previously on how over a dozen houses and shops belonging to Muslims were vandalised by Hindutva groups such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal across Tripura, as retaliation for attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Photos and videos, that went viral on social media, showed how the right-wing mobs have been raising anti-Muslim slogans during protests, forcing Muslim families to flee.  

However, now police have warned that “fake social media accounts are being used to spread fake news and communally sensitive rumours.” These include visuals “of burning and damaged mosque (sic).” Police maintained that the situation in Tripura was “absolutely normal” and warned that action will be taken against those spreading rumours.

1/1

Certain persons by using fake social media IDs are spreading fake news/rumours on Tripura. It is informed that law & order situation in the State is absolutely normal.#Tripura

— Tripura Police (@Tripura_Police) October 27, 2021

According to a report in The Wire, Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Police (law and order) Subrata Chakraborty said that a mosque was ransacked and a few shops and houses were vandalised in the Chamtila and Rowa Bazar areas under the Panisagar sub-division. He said, “Some miscreants attacked a small mosque, some shops and some houses during the VHP rally. These shops and houses reportedly belong to families from the minority community. We have deployed an adequate number of police officers to maintain law and order. The incident took place near Chamtila and Rowa bazaar area. We have registered a case.” 

Meanwhile, volatile anti-Muslim slogans were raised during a rally in Tripura, where Hindutva groups chanted, “Hindustan me mulla geri nahi chalega, nahi chalega, (Islam will not be allowed in India)”

Inflammatory, anti-Muslim slogans raised during a rally in #Tripura.

“O Mohammad tera baap, Jai Shri Ram Jai Shri Ram”

“Hindustan me mulla geri nahi chalega, nahi chalega”

The rally was organised by VHP to protest against recent violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/xWTwMBfX2u

— Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) October 27, 2021

However, The Wire quoted a senior police official as confirming “that the video recording was of a rally held somewhere else, not in Panisagar.” A case has been registered against unknown VHP workers and the police said they are “investigating the matter and collecting all video footage.” No arrests have been made so far. The Dharmanagar sub-divisional magistrate Kamales Dhar has also clamped section 144 of the CrPC, as there was “a strong apprehension of breach of peace and public tranquillity in Dharmanagar sub-division… it is necessary to impose certain restrictions on movement of people in Dharmanagar sub-division… until further order.”

According to news reports, the opposition CPI (Marxist) issued a statement condemning the violence. The CPI(M) stated that after the VHP’s procession in the Panisagar sub-division went to the Rowa area, it turned violent, and shops were vandalised and set on fire. It said, “Small businesses that rely on these stores have suffered greatly. This has created a worrying situation in the area. Locals alleged the violent attack took place in front of police.”

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya told the media that there was a political conspiracy behind the incident claiming, “VHP is a social organisation and they took permission before holding the rally. I believe there was a political conspiracy behind the incident to malign the name of the government and to disrupt the peace and tranquillity of the state. We want peace. We are demanding strict action against the culprits.”

Related:

Tripura: Right-wing mobs vandalise mosques in response to the attack on minority Hindus in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Mass strike called on October 23 to protest attacks on minorities
Don’t consider yourselves as minorities: Sheikh Hasina reassures Hindus
‘Zero tolerance for communal violence’: Dhaka Tribune editorial

The post Panisagar mosque safe and secure: Tripura Police appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Right-wing mobs have reportedly vandalised as many as six mosques in Tripura, claiming it to be retaliation for the anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh.

According to a report in Maktoob Media, over a dozen of houses and shops belonging to Muslims were vandalised by Hindutva groups like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)and Bajrang Dal across Tripura, during protests.

Some photos and videos on social media show how the right-wing mobs have been raising anti-Muslim slogans during protests, forcing Muslim families to flee.

Mosques and houses of Muslims attacked by people associated to RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal across Tripura during Hindutva groups’ protest against Bangladesh violence. A mosque burnt in Udaipur by right-wing groups.

Watch: pic.twitter.com/a4RjatjbGz

— Maktoob (@MaktoobMedia) October 21, 2021

Fifteen cops have reportedly been injured and section 144 has also been imposed in several parts of the state to control the situation. Safiqur Rahman, an activist associated with Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) told Maktoob Media that a mosque was burnt in Maharani region in Gomathi district’s Udaipur on October 19.

Mosques in Krishnagar, Dharmanagar, Panisagar, Chandrapur have also been attacked and desecrated. Rahman also told the publication that a Mosque in Panisagar in North Tripura district was burnt by the Hindutva mob early on October 22. Abdul Basit Khan, a lawyer by profession, also had his house ransacked by the mob in Dharmanagar in North Tripura.

Image courtesy: Maktoob Media

The Hindu groups have also placed saffron flags in front of one Abdul Mannan’s house. The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance’s chief, Pradyot Manikya, tweeted, “Any motivated acts in our state where minorities are attacked as a retaliation to what has happened in Bangladesh must be condemned! Please remember two wrongs don’t make a right …. I appeal for peace amongst all religions in our state.”

Any motivated acts in our state where minorities are attacked as a retaliation to what has happened in bangladesh must be condemned ! Please remember Two wrongs don’t make a right …. I appeal for peace amongst all religions in our state .

— Pradyot_Tripura (@PradyotManikya) October 21, 2021

After the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, tomorrow Saturday, October 23, a mass strike and protest rally has been called for, in districts and sub-districts across the country, by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Parishad to “condemn, protest and condemn communal attacks and want the overall security of religious-ethnic minority population.”

Citizens of the country are also taking to the streets demanding safety of Bangladeshi Hindus, and taking their campaign online with hashtags like SaveBangladeshiHindus.

Over the past few days, incidents of vandalism were reported from Hindu temples in Chandpur’s Hajiganj, Chattogram’s Banshkhali and Cox’s Bazar’s Pekua, in Bangladesh. This happened during Durga Puja, a festival close to Bengalis across the globe that makes it even more disturbing.

Related:

Bangladesh: Mass strike called on October 23 to protest attacks on minorities
Don’t consider yourselves as minorities: Sheikh Hasina reassures Hindus
‘Zero tolerance for communal violence’: Dhaka Tribune editorial

The post Tripura: Right-wing mobs vandalise mosques in response to the attack on minority Hindus in Bangladesh appeared first on SabrangIndia.

It was cadres of the Sangh Parivar in Tripura who reportedly attacked CPI (M) leader and former Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar on his visit to Shanti Bazar in Agarthala earlier in the day. According to media reports, in complete violation of Covid protocol,  a sizable no. of BJP workers including women lay in wait at the venue well ahead of the visit As MLA Manik Sarkar, who is also the state Opposition Leader, arrived with Deputy Oppn Leader,  Badal Chowdhary and other comrades, the miscreants  pelted stones, bottles and used sticks to attack. Two vehicles were destroyed in the violence. Badal Choudhary was injured after a bottled hit him on the forehead. Sudhan Das and senior CPI (M) leader Tapas Datta also claimed to have been hit by stones. Two vehicles were destroyed and somehow the local leaders managed to escape.

The CPI (M) has released video footage showing BJP workers throng menacingly  toward Manik Sarkar during the attack.. Police reached the scene and hurried everybody away into their vehicles.  Earlier, BJP workers had attacked homes of CPI (M) workers who observed Karl Marx’s birth anniversary on 5th  of May. CPI (M) demanded strict action against perpetrators including  arrests.

Meanwhile the Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) has strongly condemned the attack by BJP hoodlums on former Tripura Chief Minister and CPI (M) Polit Bureau member, Manik Sarkar at Santirbazar, South Tripura. A statement released by the party said that “In a programme permitted by the Tripura Police and the administration, Manik Sarkar and the opposition team was physically attacked and prevented from visiting the houses of some party leaders and cadres and supporters who were subjected to attacks earlier. The BJP, showing its true character and colour, is not allowing any democratic activity of the opposition in Tripura. This is unacceptable and will be resisted and rebuffed.”

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