Congress demands SIT probe into BJP worker Ashish Das’s mysterious death in Tripura’s Dhalai district. TPCC chief Ashish Kumar Saha slams BJP government for political interference, police inaction, and rising attacks on opposition leaders. Family alleges involvement of BJP MLA’s husband. Congress seeks justice and accountability.
The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has intensified its demand for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the mysterious death of BJP worker Ashish Das, who was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Dhalai district. A delegation of senior Congress leaders, led by TPCC president Ashish Kumar Saha, met Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag at the Police Headquarters in Agartala on Monday to press for immediate and unbiased action.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Saha expressed grave concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, accusing the BJP-led government of political interference and misuse of police machinery to suppress the opposition.
Ashish Das, a resident of Surma in Dhalai district, was reportedly missing since June 17. His mutilated body was discovered five days later near a local brick kiln, sparking outrage and suspicion among locals and political circles. The brick kiln, as reported, belongs to an individual named Souvik Das. What raised further concerns was the fact that Ashish had joined the BJP just two years ago, following the mysterious death of his younger brother, Asim Das.
In a dramatic twist, Ashish Das’s mother lodged a formal complaint, naming Paritosh Pal—the husband of BJP MLA Swapna Das Pal—as the primary suspect in her son’s murder. She claimed that Pal had earlier been accused in the death of Asim Das and had issued multiple threats to Ashish. However, despite the severity of these allegations, Congress leaders highlighted that Pal has not yet been questioned by the police.
Saha lashed out at the state government for what he described as a “conspicuous silence” from the ruling BJP’s top leadership, particularly MLA Swapna Das Pal. “We may not yet know the full truth behind the mother’s claims, but the fact that there has been no police action against the accused, even after such serious allegations, points to clear political shielding,” he said.
The TPCC chief underscored the urgency of forming a Special Investigation Team, headed by a senior IPS officer from outside the state, to ensure transparency and justice. He emphasized that the political influence currently undermining the investigation has eroded public confidence in the administration. “We demand an impartial and transparent probe. The existing police mechanism is clearly compromised,” he added.
Further accusing the BJP of fostering a climate of fear and repression, Saha drew attention to recent events, including the obstruction of a public event hosted by Congress MLA Gopal Roy in Banamalipur. Allegedly, workers linked to the ruling party created hurdles and threatened attendees, underscoring what Saha described as a broader pattern of political intimidation.
“The repeated attacks and threats against opposition leaders are not isolated incidents. They reflect a deliberate strategy to silence dissent and consolidate power by instilling fear,” Saha asserted.
He also raised the issue of land mafia involvement in the region, suggesting that Ashish Das may have fallen victim to a nexus between local power brokers and political leaders. In a letter sent earlier this month to DGP Amitabh Ranjan, Saha had already flagged concerns about rising political violence and land-related crimes in the Dhalai district.
“The administration’s silence speaks volumes,” said Saha, reiterating that law enforcement is being manipulated to shield influential individuals close to the ruling party. “The death of Ashish Das is not an isolated crime—it is a symptom of a larger breakdown of law and order in Tripura.”
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The Congress delegation urged the DGP to act swiftly, without political bias, and ensure that all accused are interrogated thoroughly. They warned that continued inaction would only fuel public resentment and further degrade the state’s democratic institutions.
With the pressure mounting, political observers in Tripura await the government’s response, especially with growing demands from civil society and opposition parties for justice in the Ashish Das case.
