One Killed in Clash During Vote Counting for Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Village Committee Elections

One person was killed amid a clash and a subsequent police lathi-charge during counting of votes for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Village Committee elections at Tulasikhar in Khowai district on Monday, officials and political leaders said. The deceased was identified as Matilal Karmakar. Leaders of the Tipra Motha party in Khowai claimed he was an active worker of the party. Chief Minister Manik Saha said a group of people had allegedly resorted to stone pelting, following which security personnel used a mild lathi-charge. He said a stampede-like situation developed as people tried to disperse, during which Karmakar fell on the ground and sustained serious injuries. “He died while being shifted to Agartala,” Saha said, expressing condolences to the bereaved family. The Chief Minister said such incidents were unnecessary during the counting process, particularly when the results were favouring the ruling NDA alliance. He also said he was not aware of Karmakar’s political affiliation. The vehicle of Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Ipper Manchak was also attacked during the incident. Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma, however, alleged that Karmakar died after being subjected to excessive force by BSF personnel deployed at the counting venue. He claimed the party had video evidence showing security personnel beating Karmakar with lathis. Debbarma said Karmakar was initially taken to Khowai hospital and later referred to GBP Hospital in Agartala, where he was declared dead. He said the party would file an FIR after completion of the post-mortem and other formalities. Saha said the ruling alliance’s performance in the village committee elections had broadly matched its expectations, while attributing some discrepancies to a lack of coordination. Taking a swipe at the opposition, he said the CPI(M) and Congress had failed to perform and would now have to find an explanation for their electoral setback as the village committee elections were held through ballot papers rather than EVMs.