
Tripura CM Manik Saha blames ally Tipura Motha for attack on BJP members, vows strict action
Saha visited the state-run GB Pant Hospital at night to meet the injured BJP workers.
Agartala, Jul 27 (PTI) Blaming ally Tipra Motha for the attack on BJP members in Khowai district, Tripura CM Manik Saha on Sunday said he has directed the police to take strict action against the perpetrators.
'Several BJP karyakartas injured, 3 undergoing treatment at GB Hospital. I visited the hospital, instructed doctors to provide best care & directed police to take strict action against perpetrators. Such disgraceful acts won't be tolerated,' he added.
The incident happened in Ashrambari in Purba Taksaiya, a remote tribal village, in the Champahower police station area in the morning.
The Pradyot Debbarma-led Tipra Motha, a part of the BJP-led government in the state, denied its involvement in the incident, which triggered a political storm in the state.
'BJP workers had gathered at a house to listen to the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme. Suddenly, a group of miscreants attacked them, injuring three persons. All of them were taken to a nearby health facility,' Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Khowai Kudiarasu told PTI.
'Preliminary investigation revealed internal rivalry led to the attack, and it had nothing to do with 'Mann Ki Baat'. An FIR was lodged, and an investigation is underway. No arrest has been made so far,' he said.
The BJP's Janajati Morcha general secretary Bipin Debbarma claimed that seven party members were injured in the attack.
Three vehicles and 10 motorcycles belonging to the BJP members were also set on fire by the attackers, police said.
Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma, a leader of Tipra Motha, denied the party's involvement in the incident.
'I don't know what the BJP has said. We do not attack leaders or workers, or supporters of our allies. There might be a conspiracy to create such a situation. In no way is the party involved in the attack,' he claimed. PTI PS SOM
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
27 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Trinamool highlights unnatural death migrant worker in Pune, blames it on targeting of Bengali speakers
Raising its pitch against the targeting of migrant workers from West Bengal in other States, the Trinamool Congress on Friday highlighted the unnatural death of a 28-year-old worker from State's Jalpaiguri district at Pune in Maharashtra. 'This is no longer about detention, harassment, or deportation. This is targeted elimination. Bengalis are being hunted, assaulted, and murdered with impunity in @BJP4India -ruled states. @India_NHRCwon't bat an eye because this state-sponsored violence is orchestrated and enabled by BJP,' the Trinamool Congress posted on social media. The deceased worker was identified as Dipu Das (28), a resident of Binnaguri panchayat area of Rajganj of West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district. The family members of the migrant worker claimed that he was murdered. The West Bengal's ruling party on social media said that a blood-soaked photo of the migrant worker's body was sent to his family members by a contractor from Pune. 'His body bore multiple injury marks, including a deep wound on his neck clearly inflicted by a sharp weapon,' the Trinamool Congress said. Several leaders and spokespersons of the party including Kunal Ghosh took to social media and demanded investigation in the manner. 'In light of a series of such alarming incidents in -ruled states,@BJP4India this cannot be dismissed as an isolated case. We demand a prompt, transparent, and independent investigation into the matter. The culture of targeted hate and impunity must end,' Mr. Ghosh said. Another Trinamool Congress spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya warned that the 'BJP will face consequences far graver than they can imagine' if this 'brutal campaign against Bengalis continues'. A few days ago, Abu Bakkar Mandal, a migrant worker of Baduria, North 24 Parganas, was murdered under Bhasi police station area of Maharashtra. The Trinamool Congress government had claimed that the migrant worker was targeted for being a Bengali. However, later the investigations revealed the youth was murder due a strained relationship with a woman in Maharashtra. The family members of the deceased migrant worker from Jalpaiguri, particularly his brother Apu Das said that his brother used to work for a contractor, who told the family that he met with an accident and later was informed that his brother had died. The family members said that they became suspicious after seeing the blood-stained photographs of his brother sent from Pune. The development comes at a time when hundreds of migrant workers from West Bengal have alleged harassment and torture at the hands of police on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals in different States including Maharashtra. The Trinamool Congress has launched a 'language movement' to protest the targeting of migrants.


Indian Express
27 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Political speeches are often exaggerated': Telangana HC quashes criminal defamation against CM Revanth Reddy
The Telangana High Court Friday quashed a criminal defamation case against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. The case stems from remarks made by the CM against the BJP during the Lok Sabha election campaign at Kothagudem in May 2024. On Friday, the Bench of Justice Lakshman allowed the petition filed by Reddy to quash the proceedings against him in the case pending trial before a Special Judicial First Class Magistrate (JFCM) for Excise cases (designated MP-MLA court) in Hyderabad. He was booked under Section 499 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 125 (promoting enmity between classes in connection with an election) of the Representation of the People Act. The complainant, Telangana BJP unit represented by its General Secretary Kasam Venkateshwarlu, contended that the statements, such as 'the BJP, if voted to power, would change the Constitution and abolish reservations to SC/ST and BC communities', were part of a 'fake and dubious political narrative' to confuse voters and promote enmity between communities. The BJP alleged that the speech lowered the party's reputation and caused damage during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Special JFCM for excise cases in August 2024 had issued a summons to Revanth Reddy, asking him to appear personally before it. Subsequently, the chief minister approached the high court challenging the complaint and seeking to stay the proceedings initiated against him. The high court had earlier granted him an exemption from personal appearance before the trial court. The petitioner's counsel, T Niranjan Reddy, informed the court that political speeches should not be the subject of defamation, 'as elections inherently involve parties seeking to lower each other's reputation.' He said the 'alleged speech is a routine activity of a political leader to criticise the opposition and is not defamation,' and that such speeches are protected under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. The petitioner, among other allegations, argued that the complaint was filed with a political vendetta to harass the petitioner and constitutes an abuse of the legal process. On his part, the counsel for the respondent, Devineni Vijay Kumar, argued that the statements created mistrust and fear among voters, bringing disrepute to the BJP. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the contention of the petitioner that political parties do not enjoy reputation and cannot maintain a complaint for criminal defamation. The court also found neither the complainant (BJP Telangana) nor its representative, Kasam Venkateshwarlu, was authorised by the national unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party to file the complaint. Refraining from discussing the contents of the alleged speech and the issue of its defamatory nature, the court noted, 'Political speeches are often exaggerated. To allege that such speeches are defamatory is another exaggeration.' 'It is trite law that, power of quashing should be exercised very sparingly and circumspection and that too in the rarest of rare cases. However, where the initiation of criminal proceedings suffers from material defects or where such criminal proceedings constitute abuse of process, the inherent powers can be exercised to quash criminal proceedings,' the court stated in the order.


Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
7.2cr voters in post-SIR Bihar draft roll, against 7.9cr before
PTI file photo New Delhi: The draft roll for Bihar published by the Election Commission on Friday includes 7.24 crore electors who submitted their enumeration forms within the July 25 deadline. Bihar's electorate, as per the draft roll, is over 65.6 lakh less than its 7.9 crore strength on June 24, 2025, ahead of the onset of the special intensive revision. This figure of 65.6 lakh, made public by EC on July 27 after conclusion of the first phase of SIR, includes 22 lakh dead electors, 36 lakh permanently shifted or absent/untraceable, 7 lakh voters enrolled at more than one place and electors who did not submit their enumeration forms. As many as 15 districts have recorded a higher than state average, though not alarming, percentage of exclusions from the draft roll. These include Gopalganj (15.1%), Purnea (12.1%), Kishanganj (11.8%), Madhubani (10.4%) and Bhagalpur (10.2%). Kishanganj and Purnea are districts with allegedly high concentration of illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Kishanganj is also the only Muslim majority district in Bihar, while Purnia has over 38.4% Muslims. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Car Insurance Rates Are Dropping - Find Out If You're Overpaying AutoSaveMax Get Quote Undo Interestingly, Araria and Katihar - where Muslims' share in the population is 43-44% and which also allegedly have Bangladeshi immigrant settlers - have recorded exclusions (7.6% and 8.2%) short of the state average of 8.3%. EC said any elector or party can now file claims and objections with ERO till Sept 1, seeking addition of wrongfully excluded electors or deletions of ineligible ones. From Saturday, EC will release a daily update on claims and objections.