Body of village committee tribal contestant found near TSR

camp

Agartala, Feb 20 (PTI) The body of a 27 year-old tribalcontestant of opposition National Conference of Tripura (NCT)was recovered from near a Tripura State Rifles(TSR) camp atShikaribari village in Tripura West district, about 76 km fromhere, police said today.

The body of Nilima Debbarma, a housewife contesting avillage committee election was recovered with a rope tiedround her neck near TSR 6th battalion camp yesterday.

Police arrested a TSR jawan for his alleged involvementin the crime.

Patrolling by security forces was intensified in the areato defuse tension, the police said.

NCT president Animesh Debbarma said Nilima, who wascontesting in the party''s ticket in the polls to Shikaribarivillage committee, had gone to a house near the TSR camp. Agroup of youths and the TSR jawan who were drinking liquor atthe camp gangraped her and then strangulated her to death.

Ruling CPI(M) today condemned the incident and demandedimmediate arrest of the culprits.

It also appealed to all sections of people to maintaincalm and peace before the elections of the village committeein Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC)scheduled to be held on February 24.