The police in Belonia have arrested two people, including a former CPI(M) activist who had switched over to the BJP, in connection with the demolition of a statue of Vladimir Lenin on Monday.
Based on video evidence, three others have been sent notice to appear before the police by Friday. Belonia, about 90km from State capital Agartala, is the headquarters of South Tripura district bordering Bangladesh.
Video footage
The arrests on Wednesday came amid revelation that one of five people seen in the video footage pulling down the Lenin statue with bulldozer had taken the lead in demolishing a statue of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi – also in Belonia.
This man, Manik Das, is a contractor who left Tripura during the 1988-1993 Congress rule and returned after the Left Front won the 1993 polls to allegedly terrorise Congress workers.
“Manik Das is one of three people we have summoned under Section 41 of CrPC. The others are Suman Mazumdar, owner of the bulldozer and one Uttam Saha. They are expected to report within 48 hours,” Ipper Monchak, West Tripura district Superintendent of Police, told The Hindu .
“We have already arrested the bulldozer driver and Raju Nath on basis of evidence gathered,” he said.
