Clashes, low turnout mar Raipur South by-election
The outcome of this by-election is seen as a critical prelude to the upcoming municipal elections, with both parties keen to maintain their influence.
Police arrested four members of the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) in connection with the incidents of violence and the death of a journalist, Shantanu Bhowmik, in Tripura on Thursday.
According to sources, Superintendent of Police (SP) Avijit Saptarshi said, “Sixteen police personnel were injured. Two vehicles were damaged by the IPFT activists at the Mandai and Khumulwung areas of the district.”
He added that the police were attacked with bows, arrows, bottles and machetes.
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Earlier on Thursday, funeral procession of the journalist was carried out in Agartala.
Shantanu Bhowmik was allegedly killed while he was covering clashes between the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) and the Tripura Rajaer Upajati Ganamukti Parishad (TRUGP) in Mandai, in West Tripura.
Section 144 of CrPC was imposed in more than 12 places in the state following clashes between IPFT and TRUGP. Internet services have also been shut down across the state.
His body was recovered near a stadium by police. He was taken to GB Pant Medical College and Hospital but was declared brought dead by the doctors.
According to media reports, chaos erupted after police resorted to lathicharge to disperse crowd.
Several journalists staged a sit-in protest outside Chief Minister Manik Sarkar’s residence demanding the arrest of the perpetrators. Chief minister Manik Sarkar assured the mediapersons of a probe to apprehend the perpetrators.
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