But the State Government remained adamant and in order to foil any disruption decided to shift the venue of the CET to Maharaja Bir Bikram College from the TMC compound. One day prior to the CET, Tripura Director General of Police K Saleem Ali addressed the media and hinted at some strict police action and said that “I have been instructed to do so.”

But what followed on the 10th of July was not even in the wildest imagination of all concerned. The CET went off peacefully. But in the vicinity of MBB College police brutality came to the forefront and 11 scribes were beaten up alongside a hundred odd Congress workers. The barbaric scenes were replayed in the local cable news channels and photographers also caught in their lenses police and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans mercilessly beating up almost anyone who came in front of them. In an instantaneous reaction, scribes from across the state capital started a sit in demonstration in front of the state police headquarters. DGP Mr. Ali came out and a meeting was held inside soon after where the journalists demanded immediate action against three erring police officials, Superintendent of Police Anees Prasad, Officer in Charge of East Agartala police station Narayan Saha and Officer in Charge of College Tilla police outpost Zahangir Hossain. They gave the DGP a 24 hour deadline. In the meantime, the opposition Congress gave a call for a silent march in the state capital to condemn the police atrocities.

The next day more drama unfolded. The scribes went to police headquarters to remind the DGP of their demands. But even as the meeting was going on all hell broke out in front of West Agartala police station. TSR jawans resorted to indiscriminate firing on the Congress workers who had assembled in the silent protest march. One local businessman Papai Saha fell victim to the bullets of the TSR jawans and several other were also injured. The two days police barbarism had exposed the ugly side of the state administration under the stewardship of Chief Minister Mr. Sarkar.

Journalists took to the streets and marched to Rajbhavan to place on record their demands for action against erring police officials before the Governor D Y Patil. This was followed by a march of the lawyers to Rajbhavan seeking imposition of President’s Rule in the state. Clearly the ruling CPI (M) stands perplexed by the developments that have taken place in the past few days in Tripura. The ruling party leaders have launched scathing attack on media persons and opposition Congress leaders for trying to create trouble and also for their demand for imposition of President’s Rule in the state. But the manner in which journalists from all sections came under a common platform and launched an united agitation has shaken the pillars of Melarmath (the CPI (M) party headquarters). The mask worn by Chief Minister Mr. Sarkar for long in terms of having a pro people image has also taken a hit following the incidents on the 10th and 11th of July.

Dhrubajyoti Shiva, Agartala

Self-immolation against Police Atrocity

A journalist attempted self-immolation in front of Tripura police headquarter in Agartala in protest against the police atrocity.

The journalist identified as Md Kazi Plaban (28), poured petrol on himself and set himself ablaze in front of the PHQ main gate in protest against the manhandling on the 10th of July in which 11 journalists including himself were severely injured.

Plaban, reporter of a local daily ‘Nagar Darpan’ in his two page suicide note mentioned that he is one of the 11 journalists who were injured in the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) baton charge on the 10th of July.

He added that the security force had not only injured him but also snatched his salary. But when he complained to a police official against the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) personnel who took his money he, instead of getting back his money was tortured more and so he had decided to commit suicide in protest.

He had placed the responsibility for the incident on the state government, Director General of Police (DGP) and opposition.

Plaban was saved by the pedestrians and rushed to the G B Panth memorial hospital where he is under treatment with 35-40 percent burns. Plaban said, "I was shamed by the police atrocity on me and other journalists and so today I tried to individually meet and complain about this to the DGP but was not allowed to do so. So I poured petrol and tried to commit suicide in protest against the injustice meted towards me."

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and different senior leaders of the Congress including Opposition leader, Ratan Lal Nath, former Chief Minister Samir Ranjan Barman and spokesperson Ratan Chakraborty had visited the hospital and took note of Plaban’s condition.

Meantime, Congress has severely criticized the incident of police attack on journalist and demanded immediate resignation of Manik Sarkar who is also the Home Minister.

Earlier, the media fraternity of the state under the banner of ‘Assembly of Journalist’ had protested in front of the PHQ, brought out a silent protest rally and also submitted a memorandum to the Governor of the state demanding suspension of a few police officials including the SP of West Tripura district for the alleged inhuman lathi charge on members of the media while they were trying to cover an incident.

Pinaki Das