By Debraj Deb
After visiting areas affected by the recent communal violence and arson, the Opposition Congress on Wednesday alleged that people belonging to the ruling BJP were trying to create a Manipur-like situation in Tripura.
“They had a blueprint for a communal riot at Koitorabari last month. They burned houses, vehicles and livestock. An atmosphere of panic was prevailing there. There were lapses on the part of the administration in tackling the situation, especially the police. Hooligans backed by the ruling party succeeded in creating communal tension in the area due to inaction of the police. They tried to create such situations elsewhere in the state as well,” state Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha said.
On August 25, at least 16 houses were burnt, 11 vehicles torched and several other properties damaged in a communal flare-up in the Durganagar and Koitorabari areas of Ranirbazar of the Jirania subdivision in West Tripura district following the defacement of a Kali idol at a local temple.
Opposition parties were prevented from visiting the spot on law and order grounds.
Saha said the Kali idol defacement was used as a pretext to perpetrate arson and looting and to create a fear psychosis. He also said certain people were trying to create a discord between Hindus and Muslims as well as a divide between tribals and non-tribals.
This story was originally published in indianexpress.com. Read the full story here.
