The main Opposition Congress called a 12-hour general strike in Tripura on November 20 to protest the baton charge on participants in its "law disobedience movement" on Monday that left several leaders and workers injured.
The agitation was called to seek the resignation of CPI(M)-led Left Government in the State in the wake of the exposure of financial scams in government welfare projects and outrageous incidents against women.
A few thousand Congress workers and supporters rallied in Agartala city on Monday afternoon in response to a call for agitation. A massive deployment of paramilitary troops prevented the rally near IGM Hospital square on the edge of the official residences of the Chief Minister and other Ministers.
Tension soon gripped the area as protestors started breaking the barricades one after another. At one stage, Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans resorted to baton charge, aggravating the situation.
“At least one hundred workers including Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Sudip Roy Burman, several old persons and women were injured. Condition of seven admitted in hospital is critical," Congress State working president Ashish Kumar Saha told newsmen.
Tension defused
The tension was defused at the initiatives of senior police officers. Police claimed that a few security men were hurt when protestors pelted stones.
Mr. Saha later announced that the party decided to call a 12-hour general strike on November 20 in Tripura to protest the alleged brutality on peaceful protest and press for the resignation of the ‘scam tainted’ Left Government.
CPI (M) rebuttal
The ruling CPI(M) has opposed the strike call and accused the Congress of trying to create anarchy in the State. The party reiterated that the Left Front Government has been conducting fair probe in each of the complaints of financial irregularity and outrageous incidents against women.
At least five government employees of different ranks were arrested, several staff members are evading arrest and some senior officers have been suspended from service for their involvement in embezzlement of fund from the Central government-aided schemes including MGNREGA.
The Opposition parties are demanding a CBI probe into the scams.
