AGARTALA: Former chief minister Manik Sarkar on Thursday said at least 150 CPI(M) leaders and supporters have been assaulted in Tripura by miscreants bearing allegiance to the ruling BJP during the recently held by-elections in the state, a charge denied by the saffron party,
Sarkar, who headed a delegation of party leaders to Raj Bhavan, also said that he has submitted a list of activists and supporters who have been targeted before and after the election to Governor SN Arya, and sought his immediate intervention.
We met the governor and apprised him of the unprecedented violence unleashed on CPI(M) leaders and supporters across the state. A list of victims was also given to the governor, who is the constitutional head of the state, seeking action against the attackers, Sarkar told reporters.
Another team of CPI(M) leaders called on Director General of Police (DGP) VS Yadav, during the day, and briefed him on the instances of poll-related violence .
The delegation submitted a separate memorandum to the top officer, highlighting the incidents of violence and demanding a probe into the cases. The DGP, however, tried to downplay the attacks, saying that the police won’t be able to act unless complaints are registered, CPI(M) MLA Bhanu Saha claimed.
Sarkar, dismayed over the DGP’s alleged stance, pointed out that the police could lodge suo-moto cases in such matters, “as had been directed by the Supreme Court”.

Press Trust of India