Hijab controversy: No religious hatred would be tolerated in Tripura

After a Hijab controversy inside Karoimura Higher Secondary school in Bishalgarh on Friday, the local administration vowed to spoil any attempt to disturb peace and tranquility in the subdivision.

On Sunday, the local administration led by the MLA Sushanta Deb organized a peace meeting in participation of village heads, elected representatives along with religious leaders to maintain the peace and harmony.

It may be recalled here that on Friday during school hours a group of miscreants  assaulted a Class 10 student after he supported Muslim girls wearing Hijabs at Karoimura Higher Secondary school.

Soon after the incident, groups of people from two separate religions also ransacked the school complex and engaged themselves in a pitch-battle. Later, a large number of police and security forces rushed to the spot and eased the situation. Police have denied any religious undertones to the incident.

However, in a statement released later the same day, the Sepahijala district police clarified that the incident was “in no way related to any religious issue”.

A mob of men, allegedly from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had also attacked a teenager. He sustained injuries and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Law and Order, Jyotishman Das said.

Meanwhile, speaking in the peace meeting local MLA Sushanta Deb said that police registered a specific case in this regard and an investigation is in progress. He said that this unwise incident is in no way related to any religious issue and miscreants had tried to disturb the peace and harmony of Bishalgarh and claimed that peace loving people will not tolerate such kind of hooliganism and will divert any kind of such attempt strictly. He urged the public to “maintain peace and tranquillity” and “avoid any kind of rumour”.  “Rumour mongers will be booked and strict action will be taken against them,”  said Deb and added that there is no space for religious hatred in Tripura and people from different religions living in the state with mutual brotherhood.

Opposition Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman on Saturday addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan strongly condemned the incident and claimed that ‘it’s a pre-planned programme by BJP-RSS to divert the attention of common people from their burning issues.”

He demanded immediate police action and all miscreants allegedly responsible for harassing girl students of minority communities should be arrested.

Opposition CPI (M) also condemned the incident and claimed that supporters of ruling party targeting ensuing by-elections in two assembly seats are trying to polarize the voters of the state by instigating their religious sentiments. They appealed to the peace loving people of the state to spoil such an attempt by divisive forces and should maintain peace and harmony.