A fact-finding delegation of Left leaders and farmer activists had alleged that a “wave of anti-communist violence” had broken out in Tripura since the alliance of the BJP and the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura came to power in the State in March, ending 25 years of Left Front rule.
The delegation, led by National Alliance of People’s Movements leader Medha Patkar and including all three MPs from Tripura, visited the State from August 3 to 5.
Releasing an interim report on Saturday, Raja Ram Singh, delegation member and All India Kisan Mahasabha general secretary, said the team had concluded that an “undeclared emergency” prevailed in Tripura, with “gangs of goondas” attacking Left sympathisers.
“We are seeing the murder of democracy,” said Mr. Singh, alleging that more than half the gram panchayat members in the State had been forced to resign under a government-sponsored “terror campaign”.
The report said four CPI(M) members had been brutally killed by people linked to the ruling parties, but no arrests had been made. The homes of 2,100 CPI(M) leaders and workers had been attacked, while more than 750 offices of the party and those of trade unions and mass organisations had been attacked, the report said.
The report alleged that the livelihoods of Left sympathisers had been targeted, with more than 500 shops and rubber plantations being burnt and fisheries, poultry and livestock businesses being looted. MGNREGA workers were being denied work on the basis of their political affiliations, while shopkeepers and transport owners were being harassed, it said. Women, minorities and tribal people had been severely affected, it added.
“The same pattern of attacks is being seen in every district. This is a systematic effort, with central planning,” alleged Ashok Dhawale, president of the AIKS.
