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Shoot-at-sight orders issued in violence-hit West Tripura

Shoot-at-sight orders were issued in violence-hit West Tripura where a 24-hour curfew was clamped after ethnic violence and arson left about 10,000 people homeless.

Police and official sources today said the curfew was imposed at 2200 hrs yesterday as ethnic violence continued for the third day. The curfew will be extended if the situation did not improve, they said.

The shoot-at-sight orders were issued in the Jirania police station area where more than 500 huts belonging to 250 families of both tribals and non-tribals were burnt down by mobs in 12 villages.

The violence began on Monday morning after a tribal youth sustained a bomb injury at Chakbasta. The police have arrested 28 people in connection with the arson, which has claimed one life so far.

The police opened fire and resorted to lathi-charge in several places to disperse the mobs. Additional Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force, Tripura State Rifles and Tripura police personnel have been deployed in the trouble-torn areas.

Senior police, Assam Rifles, CRPF and civil officials were supervising the security and relief work.

The authorities have warned of stern action against those who try to disturb the peace after tension ran high in the northern areas of West Tripura district.

An official release said Chief Minister Manik Sarkar held several meetings with senior security and civil officials and reviewed the situation.

Sarkar directed the police and other authorities to tighten security arrangements and take stern action against anti-socials indulging in violence and arson. He also ordered quick relief to all affected families.

The affected people have been shifted to the 15 relief camps opened by the state government, and still, a large number of people have taken refuge in other places.

A large number of tribal women gheraoed the Takarjala police station in West Tripura and the Manu police station in Dhalai district last night, demanding the release of suspected militants arrested earlier.

Some suspected militants opened fire on the Takarjala police station. The police retaliated and carried out a lathicharge to remove the women and suspected militants, the sources said.

Strongly condemning the arson, Sarkar said it was instigated by vested interests with a view to disturb ethnic harmony and peace in the state. He appealed to the people to be aware of such nefarious designs, maintain peace and cooperate with the government in restoring normalcy.

UNI

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