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A BJP worker, Ashis Paul lost his life following a violent clash with CPM-Congress workers during the Panchayat poll counting in Tripura on August 12. The incident, which took place near the Kathalia block office, has sparked significant outrage among BJP supporters, leading to widespread protests in the region.
On the day of the clash, tensions escalated between the BJP and CPM-Congress workers over the counting of the three-tier Panchayat polls. Several BJP workers, including Ashis Paul, sustained injuries in the ensuing violence. They were immediately rushed to the hospital, where Paul’s condition deteriorated, and he succumbed to his injuries late on Saturday night.
The following day, the atmosphere in Sonamura was charged with grief and anger as the body of Ashis Paul was brought back to his hometown. BJP workers from across the Sonamura sub-division, led by former Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik, gathered in large numbers to pay their respects. The grieving supporters held a silent march through the streets, carrying the body of the deceased as a mark of protest against the incident.
As the protestors made their way through Sonamura, they voiced their anger over what they perceived as the police’s failure to prevent the violence on the day of the poll counting. There were reports of local CPM and Congress party offices being targeted during the protests, further intensifying the tension in the area.
The protest culminated with the body of Ashis Paul being taken to his home, where it was cremated in the presence of hundreds of BJP workers and supporters. The atmosphere was one of deep sorrow and indignation as party members vowed to seek justice for their fallen colleague.
Protestors alleged that while an FIR had been lodged against 14 individuals in connection with the attack on BJP workers near the Kathalia block office, only one arrest had been made so far. They demanded the immediate arrest of all those involved and called for stern action to be taken against the culprits.
Speaking to the media, Pratima Bhowmik held the CPM responsible for the incident, accusing a group of 30-35 CPM workers of launching the attack in the presence of police. She condemned what she described as the CPM’s continued culture of political violence and vowed to make Tripura free from such practices. Bhowmik urged the people to remain vigilant against the CPM and assured that the party would not allow the CPM to gain any ground in Sonamura in the future.
The incident has further fueled political tensions in the region, with both sides trading accusations and the demand for justice growing louder among BJP supporters.
