Tripura blocked data and SMS service again apprehending communal tension

Agartala, Oct 5: With the fresh tension erupted under Radhapur police station area of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) headquarters at Khumulwng following arrested of one Balendra Debbarma (38) in connection with the driver missing case for past two weeks, the state administration reinforced the blocked data and SMS service until further order last evening. The state home department in a fresh instruction to telecom service providers to block the services, as the telecommunication service is having potential to spread rumor and that might caused communal tension among tribal and non-tribal. Earlier, left front government had suspended data and SMS service for four days on Sep 20 last after murder of TV journalist Shantanu Bhowmik (28) at tribal dominated Mandwi of West Tripura in a mysterious circumstance. This is for the second time administration resorted to the same tactics anticipating further clash, which triggered serious reaction. The entire telecommunication network has been disrupted by the service providers has created havoc in public life. The online services including banking and ticket booking have been affected severely, as most of the students and professionals were about to leave the state after puja vacation. The entire oppositions voiced against the decision of disrupting telecom network in the state and alleged it was once again proved that the left front government was not capable of maintaining law and order situation and trying to reflect the situation of Kashmir in Tripura before global audience. “We have been demanding that law and order situation of the state is gradually deteriorating due to failure of the government and now it is proved again. Internet service and telecom network was blocked with the recommendation of Indian Army at extreme level but here Manik Sarkar is using it to cover up the failure of his administration.” Alleged BJP state president Biplab Kumar Deb. He said, police arrested Balendra Debbarma only after he met DGP after two weeks of no action on the part of the government to rescue the driver Jiban Debnath who went on missing from Khumulwng a few hours later of the murder of Shantanu when he was returning to Agartala with a Delhi based journalist. “We don’t know how this state is running where Chief Minister is insensitive. DGP and chief secretary are running administration with the political interest of the ruling party and common people do not get any importance. Unless I raised the issue Jiban was a close chapter for police and the government,” Deb alleged. However, police claimed that with the input of Balendra Debbarma police launched haunt to find out Jiban in the remote tribal villages but still there is no clue. Meantime, the villagers claiming Balendra as innocent sit for demonstration demanding his immediate release and at a state administration imposed 144 CrPC, used tear gas and blank fire to cease the tension. The villagers were disperse from the police station but threatened to go for mass movement against police that so far whoever was arrested in connection with Jiban missing and murder of Shantanu were innocent tribal belonging to IPFT. They warned to go for counter action unless police released all of them immediately. Meanwhile, police said Balendra was shifted to Agartala last night and he has revealed important information regarding missing driver Jiban who apprehended to be killed by the miscreants. Besides, interrogating Balendra police launched search to find out Jiban. The SP (West) Abhjit Saptarshi said that situation is calm now in Jirania and administration has undertaken measures to maintain normalcy in the situation. There is no report of any violence and tension, he claimed. UNI