Reported by: Mrinal Banik
Agartala: Senior IPFT leader and party general secretary Swapan Debbarma was allegedly assaulted and his car vandalised by suspected Tipra Motha supporters near the Hezamara block office in Tripura on Tuesday.
Debbarma said the incident occurred when he had parked his vehicle near the block office and was about to enter the premises to meet the Returning Officer.
According to Debbarma, the attackers allegedly targeted his vehicle soon after it stopped near the block office. He said his car was vandalised while he was inside, prompting his driver to contact police personnel deployed at the block office.
The police reached the spot and rescued Debbarma, who sustained injuries to his head during the incident. He was initially taken to Mohanpur Hospital for treatment and was later referred to the trauma care centre of GBP Hospital in Agartala for further medical attention.
Debbarma said he could not understand why he had been targeted. He claimed that when he informed the attackers that he was a senior IPFT leader and that the IPFT was part of an alliance with the Tipra Motha and BJP for the upcoming village committee elections, the attack allegedly intensified.
“I am clueless as to why my car was targeted. I thought they were mistaken in recognising me. When I tried to alert them that I am a senior leader of IPFT, the intensity of the attack increased,” Debbarma said.
He was referred to the trauma care centre for advanced treatment after receiving initial medical attention at Mohanpur Hospital.
IPFT leader and Minister Shukla Charan Noatia visited GBP Hospital to enquire about Debbarma’s condition and condemned the incident.
In a social media post, Noatia said violence was unacceptable and that the IPFT, BJP and Tipra Motha were contesting the village committee elections as alliance partners.
“Such acts of aggression directly undermine the very spirit of our unity,” he said, urging party workers and supporters to maintain peace and ensure a safe and democratic election process.
The allegations of an attack by Tipra Motha supporters could not be independently verified immediately.