Former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar has demanded an impartial investigation into the November 2 Sonamura violence, condemning the alleged assault on two BSF personnel and urging police and security forces to establish accountability through a fair, evidence-based inquiry.
Former Tripura Chief Minister and senior CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar has demanded a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the November 2 violence in Sonamura subdivision, which reportedly involved an alleged assault on two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel amid rising tensions in the border area.
Expressing serious concern over the incident, Sarkar strongly condemned the attack on the BSF personnel and called upon the police and the BSF authorities to jointly investigate the circumstances that led to the unrest. He emphasised that the investigation must establish the sequence of events based on facts and evidence rather than speculation or assumptions.
According to the account referred to by the CPI(M) leader, the incident reportedly began with a confrontation between BSF personnel and an individual suspected of involvement in illegal cross-border activities. The person was allegedly stopped by security personnel and subjected to physical assault, resulting in injuries. The incident subsequently triggered anger and resentment among sections of the local population.
Following the alleged assault, local residents reportedly organised a road blockade to protest against the incident. The situation later escalated when two BSF personnel travelling through the area in a separate vehicle were allegedly intercepted and attacked by a group of people.
Sarkar pointed out that the two personnel who were allegedly assaulted during the subsequent incident were reportedly not connected with the earlier confrontation that triggered the protest. He stressed that targeting security personnel who had no direct involvement in the initial incident was unacceptable.
While acknowledging the concerns that may have arisen among local residents over the alleged conduct of certain security personnel, the former Chief Minister maintained that violence could never be justified as a means of expressing grievances.
He said that if residents believed any excesses had been committed by members of the security forces, they should have approached the police or pursued appropriate legal and administrative remedies. Taking the law into one’s own hands, he stressed, was not an acceptable response under any circumstances.
The CPI(M) leader also raised concerns about the subsequent police action in connection with the violence. Referring to reports that approximately ten people, including several women, had been arrested and remanded to police custody, Sarkar called for transparency and fairness throughout the investigation.
He urged the investigating authorities to examine every aspect of the incident, including the circumstances surrounding the initial confrontation, the reasons behind the road blockade and the alleged attack on the two BSF personnel.
According to Sarkar, investigators must establish the individual roles of everyone involved and determine whether any violations or excesses occurred during the sequence of events. He emphasised that accountability should extend to all parties wherever evidence establishes wrongdoing.
The former Chief Minister further maintained that the investigation should not be influenced by political considerations, public pressure or preconceived conclusions. Instead, the authorities must rely on evidence, witness statements and a proper examination of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The November 2 violence has raised concerns about law and order in the sensitive border region of Sonamura, where maintaining peaceful relations between local residents and security personnel remains important.
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Sarkar’s demand for a joint and impartial inquiry highlights the need for a balanced approach that addresses public grievances while upholding the authority of law enforcement agencies.
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He reiterated that a credible, transparent and evidence-based investigation would be essential to uncovering the truth, fixing responsibility and preventing similar incidents in the future.
The CPI(M) leader’s position combines a clear condemnation of violence against BSF personnel with a demand for accountability and due process, stressing that justice must be ensured through the established legal system.
