Agartala, April 2: Asish Kumar Saha, President of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee, on Thursday raised serious concerns over the law and order situation in the state ahead of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections, urging the Election Commission to deploy central armed forces to ensure peaceful polling.
Addressing reporters at Congress Bhavan, Saha alleged that Tripura was witnessing rising political violence in the run-up to the elections. Referring to a recent incident in Kamalpur in Dhalai district, where several police personnel were injured during a mob attack, he said such developments had created fear among voters.
“The entire state is facing the heat of political violence ahead of the ADC polls. The ruling parties are making every effort to turn the election into a farce,” Saha alleged.
He further claimed that since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the state, opposition parties have been under sustained pressure. According to him, Congress offices and assets have been repeatedly targeted and damaged over the past eight years.
Saha also pointed to alleged tensions within the ruling alliance, stating that clashes between political allies were adding to public distress. He accused the administration of bias, claiming that the police were being influenced and were unable to act independently.
“The police have been reduced to puppets in the hands of the ruling party. They are not being allowed to function impartially, and this raises serious concerns about administrative neutrality,” he said.
Expressing concern over the Kamalpur incident, Saha said it was alarming to see police personnel forced to retreat in self-defence. “When police step back in the face of miscreants, public confidence in law enforcement is shaken,” he remarked.
The Congress leader stressed that without adequate deployment of central armed forces, controlling violence during the elections could become difficult. He warned that tensions might escalate further as polling day approaches.
Saha also alleged a rise in crime, including incidents involving women, and questioned the state government’s governance claims. His remarks come amid heightened political tensions, though there was no immediate response from the ruling party.
