Tripura Leader of the Opposition and CPI(M) politburo member Jitendra Chaudhury on Thursday demanded the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the communal violence that erupted at Shimultala village under the Fatikroy Assembly constituency on January 10. Stressing the seriousness of the incident, Chaudhury said a senior police official should be appointed to head the SIT to ensure a fair, transparent and time-bound investigation, leading to the arrest and punishment of the real culprits.
The violence broke out under Fatikroy police station following a clash between two groups over the collection of subscriptions for a local festival. The incident left at least six people injured and affected around 15 families, many of whom suffered extensive damage to their homes and livelihoods.
Addressing a press conference at the CPI(M) state headquarters, Chaudhury said he had met Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha and urged him to take immediate steps to restore peace and normalcy in the area. He reiterated the demand for an SIT, emphasizing the need for an impartial probe to prevent further escalation of tensions.
Chaudhury said he submitted a six-point charter of demands to the state administration. These include the setting up of a temporary police picket in Shimultala, citing that more than ten days after the incident, tension still prevails in the village. He alleged that troublemakers continue to visit the area to provoke unrest and stressed the importance of police presence and confidence-building measures. He also urged the administration to ensure the safe return of youths from Muslim families who are reportedly in hiding due to fear of further violence or police action.
Demanding adequate compensation, Chaudhury criticized the government for providing only ₹5,000 each to 11 families, calling it grossly insufficient. He said all 15 affected families should be compensated after proper assessment and provided housing assistance and low-interest loans. He also demanded the release of five innocent persons from victim families who were allegedly wrongly arrested, urging the government to take effective steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
