Former Tripura minister dies from head injury

Agartala, Mar 6: Former Health Minister of Tripura and veteran Communist leader Bibekananda Bhowmik died early today in Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC).

Bhowmik was a bachelor and has three brothers. He was admitted with a critical head injury yesterday after being attacked by his nephew on way to the CPI(M) local party office in Dhaleswar area of Agartala. Police said Usha Roychoudhury, a nephew of Mr Bhowmik, atacked him with a brick when he was on his way to the party office. He was shifted to AGMC in critical condition.

Doctors operated on him last night. Two senior neuro-surgeons from Kolkata were to arrive here today. Meanwhile, police arrested the accused Usha Roychoudhury, who is said to be mentally challenged. East Agartala police has launched investigation into the incident. However, the Left Front smelled a political conspiracy in it.

Front spokesperson Goutam Das claimed that the accused had joined Congress recently and it was a political attack on the eve of counting.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Left Front Chairman Baidyanath Majumdar expressed grief over the demise of Mr Bhowmik and said the state lost a great leader.

Senior Congress leader Tapas De said Mr Bhowmik was an honest politician and regretted that Left Front never gave him the importance he deserved.

Mr Bhowmik was elected to Tripura assembly as an independent candidate in 1978 and had become health minister and later assumed the charge as Chairman of Board of Tripura Khadi and Village Industries.

UNI