Congress issues ultimatum to Tripura Governor on violence

Agartala, Mar 11 (UNI) The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has issued an ultimatum to Governor D N Sahay to immediately take steps to prevent the alleged political atrocities and post-election violence.

A five-member delegation, led by TPCC president Samir Ranjan Barman, met Mr Sahay at Raj Bhawan here yesterday and lodged their complaints while seeking his immediate intervention on the issue.

Addressing mediapersons here yesterday, Mr Barman said, ''We have made it clear to him that unless the violence is stopped immediately, from tomorrow, we shall follow our own path to protect our people.'' He alleged that besides physical torture, CPI (M) supporters had been outraging the modesty of women and life had been disrupted seriously.

He pointed out that the Congress had boycotted yesterday's swearing-in ceremony to protest the post-election violence in the state and criticised the Left Front government as a whole and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in particular for their ''terror tactics on the Opposition voters''.

Meanwhile, INPT chief and former militant leader Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl said, ''The consequences will be very serious because the Left Front cadres are targeting tribal communities and also non-tribals even though they are innocent. I want to make it clear that if our people retaliate, the situation will go out of control.'' Mr Barman alleged that hundreds of Congress supporters were forced to vacate their homes in several incidents of post-poll violence in different parts of the state and as many as 23 women were harassed, adding that 126 people had sustained critical injuries in the attacks of CPM cadres in separate incidents since March 7.

Meanwhile, the TPCC yesterday reviewed the election results and post-poll situation and decided to fight against the ''misrule of the Left Front governement in Tripura''.

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