Bishalgarh witnessed heightened tensions on Thursday as motor workers held a rally led by BMS district secretary Raju Das, protesting a violent clash between two factions of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) on Wednesday night. The rally culminated in a deputation at the Bishalgarh police station, demanding action against BMS state committee member Sajal Deb.
Raju Das accused Sajal Deb of orchestrating the violence, alleging that Deb, along with his brother Binoy and others, vandalized the BMS office at the Bishalgarh motor stand. In response, Deb countered the claims, stating that his house in the Ambagan area was attacked by Das and his associates. He demanded action against the alleged attackers.
The altercation reportedly began on Wednesday morning when Binoy Deb faced obstruction while refueling his auto-rickshaw with CNG. Sajal Deb accused Raju Das and others of orchestrating the obstruction. Das and his group denied the allegations, accusing Sajal Deb of abusing his position in the organization to intimidate motor workers, despite having no official role in the motor workers’ activities.
The conflict escalated when Das and his associates visited Deb’s house on Wednesday night to question him about the vandalism. According to Das, they were attacked by Deb and his brothers, who allegedly damaged their vehicle. In retaliation, a group of BMS activists, reportedly led by Das, attacked Deb’s residence.
The violent exchange left several injured, with three members of Deb’s household requiring medical attention. Two were later referred to Agartala for advanced treatment. Das and his associates denied orchestrating the attack, calling the claims baseless.
The chaos drew local leaders, including Nabadal Banik, who visited the hospital and Deb’s residence to assess the situation. The local MLA, Sushanta Deb, rushed to Ambagan from Agartala, helping to de-escalate the tension.
As accusations and counter-accusations continue, the role of the police during the incident has been questioned by locals. Authorities are now under pressure to conduct a thorough investigation to address the grievances and restore peace in Bishalgarh.
