Demonstration for Roman script: Six TISF supporters injured in retaliate police action

At least six supporters of Tipra-Indigenous Students Federation (TISF) suffered injuries after they were engaged scuffle with police forces during a mass deputation towards the Governor of Tripura on Wednesday at Circuit House area OF Agartala demanding Roman script for Kokborok language.

As scheduled hundreds of TISF supporters along with some senior Tipra-Motha leaders organized a mass rally from Astabal ground towards Governor House to a give a mass deputation before the Governor of Tripura Satyadeo Narain Arya in support of their demand for Roman script for Kokborok language.

When the rally reached near Circuit House area of Agartala-Airport road, police and security forces barricaded them and the rally was addressed by some leaders of Tipra-Motha after they were denied deputation as the Governor was busy with other important schedules.

Suddenly, some unruly Motha supporters started breaking the barricades and pelted stones targeting the police and other security forces. Then, police forces used water cannons and fired tear gas cells to disperse agitated supporters of TISF.

But, the unruly supporters had continued their stone pelting targeting police forces and despite repeated appeals by SP(West) Kiren Kumar and other senior officials, they continued their rampaging by creating a law and order situation at the highway. Then, police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the agitated mob.

Police sources said that 5 to six supporters of TISF suffered minor injuries and among them three were admitted to GB Hospital.

On Wednesday, evening opposition leader Animesh Debbarma along with a few other leaders of Motha visited GB Hospital and met three injured students including Muskan Debbarma and Juni Debbarma.

Later, speaking with media persons Animesh Debbarma demanding police action claimed that its undemocratic and inhumane over uses of tear gas cells and resorting lathi charge on a peaceful demonstration. He demanded for a high level enquiry over the police act and said that hundreds of TISF supporters from different parts of the state had gathered only demanding their legitimate rights of Roman script for Kokborok language.

He also said that they will wait for government action over the police atrocities and if the government did not take any steps as per their demand, then Tipra-Motha will organize greater movements across the state.

Meanwhile, Tipra-Motha’s supremo Pradyoy Kishore Debbarma through a social media video message claimed that ‘today was black day for Tripura’.

He said “Tripura police used tear gas, water cannon and lathi charged thousands of unarmed peaceful protesters including many school girls who were just asking for two minutes of time from the Hon’ble Governor to meet and discuss a very grave issue concerning their future. I strongly condemn this act by the state police. We have all the rights to demand our rights and we won’t stop until it is achieved. Government will have to address the issue of the roman script for Kokborok”.

He also said that ‘this is excessive use of police force on unarmed students! And all this could have been avoided if the Governor could have met them for 2 minutes from his hectic schedule. But I am told that the Governor is always busy.’