TSR replaced with CRPF in trouble-torn area of West Tripura

Agartala, Jan 10 (UNI) The state Home department has replaced the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) with the CRPF in the remote Sarbangcherra area of West Tripura following protests from the villagers after a tribal boy was allegedly killed in TSR firing.

Official sources said here today that the 11th batallion of the TSR, responsible for the firing, had been removed from the area and the 173rd batallion of the CRPF was posted in its place.

The state administration initiated magisterial enquiry into the incident which occurred on January seven.

The situation had become volatile when hundreds of people from the Kalyanpur area took out a funeral procession with the minor's body, who was killed in the TSR firing.

The state administration also deployed additional security forces across the trouble-torn Kalyanpur police station area in West Tripura following the violent outbursts in which an irate mob went on a rampage and set at least six huts of CPM supporters afire.

The villagers also staged demonstrations in front of the Kalyanpur police station demanding compensation for the victim's family and punishment for the jawans who had allegedly killed the tribal boy.

Local Congress MLA Kajal Das alleged that the TSR might have mistaken a group of woodcutters as militants and fired at them.

UNI BB DPM LS DS1246