Opposition CPI(M) through a letter urged to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to ensure voting rights of about 2000 TSR jawans posted in Delhi and Chhattisgarh.

CPI(M) state secretary and leader of opposition (LoP), Jitendra Chaudhury in his letter the CEC of Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday said that  two battalions TSR (Tripura State Rifles) Jawans, more than 2000 are now deputed in Delhi and Chhattisgarh. They are performing security duty in various government establishments in those states. Most of the Jawans belong to Tripura and their names have been enrolled in the updated electoral roll.

“While we boast of the democratic system of our country as an ‘inclusive democracy’ it is indecent to leave such a big number of electors deprived of right to franchise in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, only because they are performing noble duty for the interest of the country,” said Chaudhury in his letter.

He requested the Commission to ensure voting rights of these Jawans by providing scope of postal ballot or arranging designated centre of polling both in their respective place of posting both in Delhi and Chhattisgarh.

In another letter to the ECI, Chaudhury urged the Commission to direct the competent police authority to act upon against miscreants involved in attack on CPI(M) supporters at Badharghat area of Agartala.

Jitendra Chaudhury in his another letter to the ECI that desperate attacks are being carried on particularly on the left leaders in Badharghatarea(under 14 Badharghat(SC)Assembly Constituency)by the miscreants known to be followers of ruling BJP.

He said that on 27th March 2024, at about 10.30 at night, the miscreants raided the house of Narayan Saha at Kanchanpalli near ONGC market. The miscreants extensively ransacked house-hold articles inside the house. “The wife of Mr Saha aged about 70 year, his son Tarak Saha, and his son’s wife were beaten up severely. The frightened family members when tried to approach to the Amtali Police station to seek help. The miscreants chased them there and again beat them mercilessly in front of police. The hapless victims were prevented going to hospital for treatment and lastly they had to come back home escorted by police without getting any treatment. They were not allowed to lodge FIR against the miscreants.”

Chaudhury in his letter also mentioned that on March 25 night, the house of Sadhan Basu, CPI(M) Dukli Sub-Divisional Committee member, and CITU leader was stormed by wine bottle for about an hour by a gang of miscreants known to be BJP supporters.  He said  miscreants also did not spare the houses of his neighbors and  miscreants threatened him not to work for the party and CITU. “Though his house is located very near to the Amtali police station, the police did not appear during attack was going on, nor took any step to book the miscreants in the basis of FIR lodged by Basu next day,” said Chaudhury.

“It is unbelievable that, such type of desperate attacks could take place without passive abetment from the local police. The Badharghat area has gained notoriety of such political violence against opposition supporters during last 6 years because of the partisan role of the local police,” the letter wrote and CPI(M) state secretary requested the CEC to direct the competent police authority to act upon against the miscreants and arrest them immediately, so that they cannot vitiate the election atmosphere .