Tripura Power and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the state government has provided jobs to 18 families affected by political killings, while 11 more names have been cleared for employment. The government continues scrutinizing petitions under the scheme supporting families of victims of political violence.
Power and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Friday reiterated the Tripura government’s commitment to providing government employment to eligible family members of individuals killed in incidents of political violence, stating that jobs have already been provided to members of 18 affected families while 11 additional names have been cleared for consideration.
Addressing a press conference at the Civil Secretariat, Nath said the BJP-led government had taken a humanitarian approach towards families that suffered due to political killings over the years and introduced a dedicated scheme to support them through employment opportunities.
The minister said that numerous political murders had taken place in the state before the BJP assumed office. Referring to available records, he stated that between 1993 and 2017, a total of 15,589 murders were reported in Tripura, among which hundreds were linked to political violence.
According to Nath, after the BJP came to power, the government decided that one eligible member from the family of a victim of political violence would be provided a government job under a special scheme. The initiative was formally notified on December 23, 2020, under the “Scheme for Providing Employment to Members of Family of Persons Killed in Political Violence.”
Initially, the scheme covered cases of political killings that occurred up to March 9, 2018. However, the minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, the state Cabinet later amended the scheme by removing the date restriction, thereby allowing more affected families to seek benefits.
Explaining the process, Nath said the government follows strict procedures before approving any application. Determining whether a death qualifies as a political murder requires verification through police reports and detailed inquiries. Authorities also assess whether there is a suitable family member eligible for employment under government norms.
To ensure transparency, a scrutiny committee was formed under Nath’s chairmanship. The committee includes the Secretary of the Law Department, the Director of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, the Inspector General of Police, and a representative from the Home Department.
The minister revealed that the government has received a total of 38 petitions under the scheme so far. Of these, employment has already been provided in 18 cases, while 11 names have been recommended and cleared for further action. Five petitions were rejected after investigations failed to establish a political background behind the deaths, while four applications remain under inquiry.
Nath further stated that many incidents that occurred during the previous Left Front government lacked adequate documentation, making verification difficult. In several cases, he said, relevant records and even police documents were unavailable.
Emphasizing the government’s approach, the minister asserted that the administration does not consider party affiliation while evaluating cases.
“We do not see political colour in political murders. Whether the victim belonged to the BJP, CPI(M), Congress, or any other political party, every case is examined with equal importance and seriousness,” Nath said.
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The minister maintained that the scheme reflects the government’s commitment to providing support and rehabilitation to families that have suffered losses due to political violence, irrespective of political ideology or affiliation.
