After opposition, ruling CPM points finger at Tripura police

Agartala, Jan 4: Tripura police has faced serious criticism from both ruling and opposition parties besides the civil society organizations and media fraternity over its performance to establish rule of law and better policing.

While opposition BJP, tribal based Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT) and Congress have been accusing police of working under the instruction and guidance of ruling party, CPI-M has questioned the efficiency of police.
Earlier, CPI-M MP in Loksabha Jitendra Choudhury had accused Tripura police of directly helping IPFT workers who were allegedly perpetrating attacks on CPI-M supporters after murder of TV journalist Shantanu Bhowmik on September 20 last.
CPI-M spokesperson Goutam Das yesterday questioned the efficiency of police and its intelligence alleging that two of the chargesheeted accused of Shantanu murder case had joined BJP two days ago openly but in police record they have been shown as 'absconding'.
Replying to a query, Das said, “It seems that BJP network is stronger than Tripura police. Otherwise, how could the chargesheeted persons of the journalist's murder case joined a political party in broad daylight. We demand BJP leaders to hand them over to police because no criminal should get shelter in any political party.”
Das stated that five youth IPFT leaders had joined BJP and of them two persons identified as -Ramendra Debbarma alias Ramendu and Pushrai Debbarma alias Soumendra - accused in Shantanu Bhowmik murder case, and police have submitted chargesheet against them stating that they have absconded.
Criticizing BJP, Das alleged, “BJP has become the den of criminals and anti-social elements. The party leaders are welcoming the chargesheeted criminals in the party for narrow interest, which we condemn and asked them to refrain from such activities.”
However, BJP president Biplab Kumar Deb, denying the allegation of Das, said, “If those new comers are involved in Shantanu murder case, why did police not arrest them? Moreover, BJP doesn’t scrutinize an individual's profile if somebody extends support and joins the party. The allegation itself proved police is not doing its duty properly and it is the failure of the government.”
Meanwhile, addressing the inauguration of police week celebration, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has expressed displeasure over the role of police and asked them to strengthen relationship with the citizens and perform their duties accordingly.
“Tripura Police has already secured a good position in the country but it is required for policemen to perform the right duty at the right time. Also undertake steps to retain peoples’ faith in police and to build up a stronger relation with public,” Sarkar said .
The chief minister further told police officials to review the work of past in both achievements and failure and to take corrective measures accordingly for the service of the people. UNI