Tripura: 12 houses set on fire after idol defaced at temple
Agartala (PTI): At least 12 houses and a few vehicles were set on fire by unidentified persons after an idol was found defaced at a temple in Ranirbazar area in West Tripura, police said on Monday.
Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS were imposed in Jirania subdivision under which Ranirbazar falls. Heavy security deployment has also been made in the area to defuse tension.
"Around 12 dwelling houses were set on fire at Ranirbazar by miscreants late on Sunday after an idol of Goddess Kali was found disfigured in Kaiturbari. A few motorcycles and pick-up vans were also gutted in the blaze," Assistant Inspector General (Law and Order) Ananta Das told PTI.
No human casualties were reported in the incident.
Eyewitnesses said that the residents fled their dwellings upon seeing the raging mob.
Das said heavy deployment of security forces have been made to defuse tension and Director General of Police, Intelligence, Anurag Dhankar and West Tripura Superintendent of Police Kiran Kumar have visited the area.
"Police will register a suo moto case once the assessment of loss of properties is completed. The situation is under control," he said.
Following apprehension of breach of peace, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS have been imposed in Jirania subdivision of West Tripura district from August 26 to 28, District Magistrate Vishal Kumar said in an order.
Under the prohibitory orders, assembly of five or more people will be prohibited due to violent activities in the subdivision, it added.
Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma on Monday expressed concern over the incident and appealed to everyone to maintain law and order.
"Last night incident in Ranirbazar Kaiturbari area is a worrying sign with reports of communal clashes. I appeal to those who are responsible for maintaining law and order to follow the rule of law," he wrote on Facebook.
"When our state is reeling under a natural disaster and so much of stress is there, some elements are only playing religious politics. Miscreants regardless of their faith must be dealt with firmly -- law has to be neutral to all. I ask for Tripura to unite in these tough times and not fight with each other," he added.
At least 26 persons have died and 1.17 lakh people have been rendered homeless in Tripura due to devastating floods since August 19.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
E P Jayarajan travels by IndiGo two years after self-imposed boycott of airline
Kozhikode (Kerala), Sep 13: Over two years after he decided to never travel by IndiGo, former LDF convener E P Jayarajan on Thursday night travelled to Delhi on the airline from Karipur airport here.
Jayarajan had in July 2022 decided not to travel by that airline after it imposed a three-week flying ban on him for his involvement in a scuffle onboard an IndiGo aircraft that was also carrying Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Confirming that he travelled on the low-cost airline, the CPI(M) leader said that he opted for Indigo in order to quickly reach Delhi to pay his respects to late party general secretary Sitaram Yechury who died on Thursday.
Jayarajan said that Yechury was bigger than everything else and reaching Delhi quickly was more important than what he had stated about the airline two years ago.
On June 13, 2022, two Youth Congress workers shouted slogans against the chief minister inside the IndiGo aircraft from Kannur, after it landed at Thiruvananthapuram airport. Jayarajan, who was also onboard, allegedly pushed aside the two protesters.
Following that, the airline imposed a three-week flying ban on the CPI(M) leader and a two-week flying ban on the two Youth Congress workers who had raised slogans against the CM on board the aircraft.
In the wake of the airline's decision, he had lashed out at it by saying that neither he nor his family will ever travel by IndiGo -- nationally or internationally -- and there are other airlines in the country which are more reputable and offer a much better service.
He had also said that he would rather walk to his destination than board an IndiGo flight ever again in his life.
The Youth Congress workers had protested against the chief minister over allegations against him in a gold smuggling case.
The two protestors and another Youth Congress member were booked for attempted murder by the Kerala police in connection with the incident.
