Tripura Cong urges rights panel to protect its minority leader
Agartala: The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee sought protection from the Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) for its leader, Md Shahjahan Islam, who is on the run to evade arrest following controversy over his alleged derogatory remarks against the chief minister earlier this week.
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Congress president Asish Kumar Saha said a party delegation met chairman THRC, Justice Arindam Lodh, on Thursday and alleged serious human rights violations against Shahjahan's family and other minority families living in the Shantipara area of the city. Congress urged the commission to ensure the safety and security of the residents.
They complained that instead of apprehending the main accused, East Agartala Police arrested Shahjahan's elderly father and brother, who were unaware of the controversial episode, and were sent to judicial custody until June 23.
Saha alleged that some BJP workers were hatching a conspiracy to evict Shahjahan and other minority families. He added that local leaders had also issued an ultimatum to the entire minority community in the area to leave Shantipara as soon as possible if they wanted to save their lives.
Tripura Police on Monday arrested the father and brother of Shahjahan Islam for his comments against CM Manik Saha, the state govt, and other BJP leaders in connection with the alleged obstruction of the celebration of Eid-al-Adha on June 7.
Shahjahan, in a Facebook live, protested an incident that occurred on the day of the Eid celebration, where some miscreants pulled the beard of a 70-year-old man for celebrating Eid in Amarpur under Tripura's Gomati district.
Congress leaders, however, alleged that a group of miscreants backed by BJP attacked the residence of Shahjahan Islam at Shantipara with firearms and assaulted his parents and wife, and vandalised the house.
BJP's state minority morcha president and former minister Billal Mia filed a complaint against Md Sahajan Islam at West Agartala police station for his statement against the chief minister on social media.
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