The civic body polls in Tripura will be held on November 25. Out of the total 20 civic bodies in the state, the ruling BJP has already won seven uncontested.
Agartala: At least 19 people were injured as supporters of TMC attacked BJP supporters in Teliamura in Tripura's Khowai district ahead of the civic poll. After both the party's supporters indulged in clashes, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in the area, police said on Friday.
Two police personnel were also among those injured in the clash days before the civic body polls in the state, prompting the administration to impose the prohibitory orders in wards 13, 14 and 15 of the Teliamura Municipal Council.
Khowai District Superintendent of Police Dr Kiran Kumar and Teliamura Sub-Divisional magistrate Mohammad Sajjad P, along with a huge force, rushed to the spot to control the situation.
"In an order issued today, Teliamura Sub Divisional Magistrate Md Sajjad P has imposed section 144 in 13, 14 and 15 ward areas of the Teliamura Municipal Council from today to maintain peace, law and order. The order will be in force till November 24," said an official statement issued late on Thursday.
Trouble started around 9.30 pm on Wednesday in the Kalita area as TMC workers' rally reached near a BJP office, Assistant Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Subrata Chakraborty said.
"Suddenly, the TMC workers attacked BJP supporters and injured several BJP supporters. The BJP supporters then retaliated and clashes erupted," he added.
Police tried to pacify both the groups but had to use "mild force" and tear gas shells to control the situation, Chakraborty said.
Total 19 persons, including two police personnel, were injured in the clash, he said. Three cases were registered in connection with the incident at Teliamura police station.
The police registered a case with charges of attempt to murder, voluntarily causing grievous injury and unlawful assembly.
Five persons were arrested by police and produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody till November 30.
BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said members of his party never attacked any TMC worker as they are not political opponents in the state. But the TMC is trying to import bad blood politics to the state.
They have no organisational base here, and they are not posing any political challenge to the BJP. We also do not believe in the culture of violence," he said.
On Friday, Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury also visited Teliamura and slammed the TMC "for instigating violence with the help of CPIM".
"They carried out the attack with the intention to kill the workers of the ruling BJP. They gathered people in large numbers at midnight and carried out the attack during which our workers were severely injured. They are here to help the CPIM with intention to get their support in New Delhi for TMC," Chowdhury added.
