Houses Burned, Offices Vandalised in Tripura's Post-Poll Violence; Opposition To Send 8-Member Delegation

Days after the assembly polls concluded in the northeastern state of Tripura, Left parties launched a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of ransacking and burning down houses of workers of the opposition parties and demolishing their party offices. The Opposition on Thursday formed an eight-member delegation, comprising leaders of the CPI(M), the CPI and the Congress, who will be going to Tripura on a fact-finding mission after a series of incidents of violence emerged, a member of the Communist Party of India said.

In a tweet regarding the developments, CPI MP Binoy Viswam said, "Our united fact-finding mission to Tripura is the natural response to the atrocities unleashed by BJP. Burning houses and killing of cows mark their victory parade. Democratic values are anathema for BJP. If secular, democratic, left forces stand united, BJP can be defeated."

The team is expected to stay in the state till March 12 after which it will submit a report and the issue will be raised in Parliament which convenes on March 13 for the second part of budget session. It will try to meet the families affected by the violence and is also likely to meet the Tripura governor.

In its mouthpiece People's Democracy, the CPI(M) has accused the BJP of unleashing an "orgy of violence" and alleged that as of March 6, around a thousand incidents of attack and violence by the "BJP gangs" took place all over the state.

"These were in the form of physical attacks on CPI(M), Left Front and Congress workers and supporters, ransacking or burning of their houses and demolition of party offices. A particularly vicious form of attack is meant to destroy their means of livelihood like burning down rubber plantations, crops and damaging their e-rickshaws and vehicles to stop them plying," the party alleged.

The editorial of the CPIM publication went on to say that the attacks were a continuing plan of repression and violence aimed at "dismantling" the CPI(M)'s organisation and intimidating its mass support. "Before elections or after, this class attack on the Communist and Left movement continues. The aim is to extirpate the Communist movement itself," it said.

Incidents of violence were reported from various areas of Tripura following the election results. Houses and offices belonging to several opposition party workers and leaders were vandalised or set on fire, reports said. Images and videos of the alleged attacks were shared by the CPI(M) on Twitter.

Earlier, Tripura chief minister Manik Saha condemned the attacks by “vested interest groups” and said stern action will be taken against those indulging in violence irrespective of the political parties involved in it.