Taking strong steps over the poll related violence in Tripura, The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken stringent action over political violence held in Majlishpur assembly constituency on January 18 last, the ECI has suspended SDPO (Jirania) and removed two OCs of Jirania and Ranir Bazar police stations.

Soon after announcement of poll schedules on January 18, supporters of BJP and Congress engaged in massive clashes at Majlishpur assembly constituency  and as many as 15 leaders and supporters of Congress including senior AICC leader and in-charge of Tripura Dr Ajoy Kumar sustained injuries, who were admitted to GB Hospital.

A motorbike rally of Congress workers covering many roads of Agartala went to Jirania area for campaigning and when, the rally returning back to Agartala, the clashes erupted  Sachindranagar Colony, Jirania, Ranir Bazar and in Briddhinagar area of the constituency in presence of large number of police and Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs).

After the incident, Congress lodged a complaint before ECI in New Delhi and also before Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and they strongly protested and demanded immediate intervention of ECI to ensure their political rights for campaigning and impartial rule of police administration.

While, ECI through a directives issued on Thursday  said that taking into the account of various inputs received, the ECI has decided to call for reports from the state of Tripura on alleged attack on the state in-charge of AICC in Jirania.

The ECI has also asked the Chief  Secretary and DGP to explain as to why the situation escalated despite a sufficient number of CAPF personnel deployed in the state.

The Commission in another order issued on Friday (January 20) has conveyed   its displeasure over the incident and strongest terms on the violent incident despite the Commission’s strict directions during the visit to the state on January 11 and 12 last.

The ECI has directed the Chief Secretary and DGP to ensure level playing field for all political parties and to initiate strict action against partisan rule of police officers  and directed to take stringent action against errant police officers.

The Commission has also ordered for suspension and immediate removal of SDPO(Jirania) Himadri Prasad Das and with immediate removal of OC of Jirania police station Narugopal Deb and OC of RanirBazar police station Ashish Sarkar for their negligence in duties.

The Commission also directed CS and DGP to assess the threat perception to the leaders of various political parties and provide security as per the threat perception without further delay. The ECI also directed the CEO, Tripura to order all District Election Officers (DEOs) to facilitate permission to political parties on first cum first basis and popularize the “Suvidha” app for meetings, rallies and road shows etc.

Meanwhile, AIG(Police Control)  Jyotishman Das Chowdhury said that three separate FIRs have been registered including one in Ranir Bazar and two in Jirania police stations. He said that police so far arrested 8 political party workers involved in the violence held in Jirania and served notices to 64 persons.