Tripura govt swearing-in ceremony: Massive security bandobast in Agartala ahead of PM Modi’s visit

While SPG officials have already taken stock of the stage from where the Prime Minister will address the state after tomorrow’s ceremony, a trial run of the motorcade that will accompany him was conducted on Tuesday. Barricades were set up along the route and a huge deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans was made in the city.

Apart from Border Security Forces (BSF) tightening security along Tripura’s 856 km-long border with Bangladesh ahead of the high-profile visit, security checks have begun at public places such as railway stations and airports.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda were welcomed by CM-designate Saha and BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee this evening at Agartala. The two national leaders will be spending the night at a state guest house on the city outskirts.

Even amidst the tight security bandobast, incidents of violence have continued in different parts of the state.

A 45-year-old woman, Parul Bala Das from North Rajnagar in Gomati district, was hospitalized after a crude bomb exploded close to her this morning.

At Melaghar in Sepahijala district, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader and five BJP supporters were hospitalized after they were injured in alleged attacks by opposition CPI(M) and TIPRA Motha supporters.

The state police said over a thousand persons were detained on preventive grounds since March 2, when the results were announced, and at least 10 persons were arrested. Over 150 incidents of violence were reported in different parts of Tripura during this time and nearly 10 persons were hospitalized with serious injuries, among whom one was flown out of the state for treatment.

Two Left Front MLAs Shyamal Chakraborty and Shamshul Haque from Sepahijala district said they received death threats in the past few days. The leaders alleged that the police was largely inactive in stopping violence in the state.

Meanwhile, the Tripura Left Front Committee said in a press statement late Tuesday evening that it would boycott the swearing-in ceremony of the new government on Wednesday in protest of the incidents of violence happening across the state since the results were announced on March 2.

“We extend our best wishes to the new government. We also appeal it to restore peace and tranquility in the state by stopping political violence immediately. Ensure unity among people across political and ideological lines”, Rakhal Majumder, on behalf of the CPIM state secretariat body, said in the statement.