A 55-year-old man, who died after being found critically injured near the counting hall at Bharat Sardar Para School in Khowai district on Monday, following a lathi charge by security forces to disperse unruly crowd, the district police in a press statement claimed  that preliminary investigation does not reveal any evidence of injuries due to lathi charge by security forces.

According to a press release issued by the Khowai District Superintendent of Police said that, supporters of the candidates and the Tipra Motha Party had gathered outside the counting hall at around 9:45–10:00 am. An exchange of allegations and counter-allegations reportedly led to a verbal altercation, which later escalated into scuffling among the supporters.

As the situation threatened to affect peace and public order, security personnel deployed at the spot intervened to disperse the gathering. However, the unruly crowd allegedly started pelting stones at the security personnel. Police subsequently used minimum force to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.

At around 10:15 am, police received information about a person lying injured behind a shop approximately 100 metres from the counting hall along the main road. He was identified as Matilal Karmakar,(55), son of Late Bijoy Kumar Karmakar, a resident of Lathabari under Khowai police station.

Karmakar was found with bleeding injuries to his head and other parts of his body. He was immediately shifted to Khowai District Hospital by Fire Brigade personnel for emergency treatment. He was later referred to AGMC and GBP Hospital in Agartala, where attending doctors declared him dead.

The police said preliminary investigation has not found any evidence to establish that Karmakar sustained his injuries due to a lathi charge by security personnel. The exact circumstances leading to his injuries and death will be determined through further investigation.

Meanwhile, security deployment has been strengthened in the area and the law-and-order situation is currently reported to be stable.