A delegation of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee led by State Congress President Asish Kumar Saha visited the troubled Gandacherra Sub-division in Dhalai district to assess the situation and meet with affected families. The visit comes amidst allegations of police inaction, government apathy, and a sinister plot by the ruling party to create unrest in the Sub-division.
The Congress team including MLA Sudip Roy Barman and Tribal Congress leaders Shabda Kumar Jamatia and Ashok Debbarma conducted an extensive tour of the affected areas meeting with grieving families and displaced residents. They demanded a thorough investigation into the incident calling for a High Court judge-led committee to uncover the conspiracy behind the tragedy.
“This is the first such incident in Gandacherra Sub-division and it has never happened before,” Saha said expressing deep sorrow during a meeting with displaced residents. “We strongly believe that this is a planned unrest created by the ruling party to divert attention from their governance failures.”
MLA Sudip Roy Barman drew parallels with the 1980 riots emphasizing the significance of the conspiracy at play. “Even during the riots of 1980 the tribals of Gandacherra Sub-division protected us. There’s a significant conspiracy at play here,” he asserted.
Barman criticized the state government’s response noting the absence of top officials including the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police.
“During our visit, we witnessed the dire conditions of the affected people, who were forced to sleep on the floor with only a thin polythene sheet for comfort. The children’s plight was particularly heart-wrenching, as they had received just a glass of milk and bread for breakfast, and nothing else to eat for the rest of the day,” Barman said.
“The police administration is complicit in this conspiracy,” Barman alleged, citing recent events including firing in 30 Card village as evidence of their inaction. “Had they acted decisively this tragedy could have been prevented.”
The Congress leaders alleged that the ruling party had created an atmosphere of fear and tension in Gandacherra leading to the tragic incident. “These miscreants belong to no society and have no political colour. They must be punished severely,” Barman demanded.
“We will not let the government sweep this under the carpet, we demand comprehensive compensation for the affected families, reconstruction of damaged homes and shops, provide them hygienic foods at the refugee camp and increased security measures including police pickets in mixed-caste areas,” Saha said.
As they departed Gandacherra Saha affirmed, “We will meet the Chief Secretary in the coming days to press our demands. We will not rest until justice is served and peace is restored in the Gandacherra.”
