The Tripura government has formed a three-member committee to investigate the deaths during the recent “political violence” that took place across the state.
Law minister Ratan Lal Nath is the chairman of the committee, home department’s additional secretary Devananda Reang is the convener and principal secretary of law department D.M. Jamatia is a member.
A notification, issued by D. Reang on June 6 and made available to the media on Saturday, said, “The Tripura government will investigate all cases where people of the state died because of political violence since last year. Family members of the victims seek justice and want the culprits punished as per the provision of law.”
The committee will provide its recommendations on completing the investigations, the notification added.
CPM secretary of Tripura West district Pabitra Kar said, “The committee has been formed to harass CPM workers. We don’t think the ongoing cases of violence will be probed by it.”
On May 28, Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb had appealed to all political parties in the state to stop political violence.
“There is a long tradition of political violence in Tripura. We want this to stop. It is not possible for the administration to stop it entirely. So I urge all political parties to cooperate,” Deb had said, adding that the BJP does not believe in political vendetta.
“Our government will take strict action against the perpetrators irrespective of their political identity. I will also ensure that no BJP worker indulges in political violence,” he had added.
Deb, who also holds the home portfolio, said altogether 186 cases of violence had been registered during the Lok Sabha elections, of which 149 were registered before the elections, four on the polling day and 33 after the elections.
At least three persons died in post-election violence. Among them, two were allegedly murdered, while one committed suicide after failing to pay off the extortion amount, allegedly sought by BJP workers.
Deb said after the new government was formed last year, 439 cases had been registered, of which 235 cases were of pre-poll violence, eight on polling day and 196 of post-poll violence.