Agartala: Tripura police have registered an FIR against several CPM leaders, including former revenue minister Badal Choudhury, former drinking water and sanitation (DWS) minister Ratan Bhowmik, former deputy Speaker Pabitra Kar among others for joining processions on Murder of Democracy in Bengal and Tripura without permission on July 24.
West Tripura superintendent of police Ajit Pratap Singh said an FIR was lodged against former deputy Speaker Pabitra Kar, Subhashish Ganguly, a local CPM leader and former MLA Ratan Das for joining the procession here. The rally didn't have the permission from the local authorities but they launched it nonetheless, the official added.
"A case has been registered under Section 82 of the Tripura Police Act and Section 107 of the CrPC against Kar. The sub-divisional magistrate can fine them up to Rs 10 lakh for violating law under the charges," Singh said.
On similar charges, 150 CPM leaders and supporters were booked in an FIR registered suo motu at Radhakishorepur police station in Gomati district on Wednesday. The leaders include former ministers Choudhury, Bhowmik and others who joined a rally at Udaipur, 50km from here.
Kar said the cases filed against the CPM leaders were "atrocious" and "it was an attack on democracy". He added that his party had sought to hold the procession as part of the nationwide protest. The Left parliamentarians had also held a protest outside Parliament on that day.
"It is surprising how the police are not allowing the Opposition leaders to exercise their democratic rights of holding rallies and congregations in the name of law and order. It is a burning example of intolerance and undemocratic behaviour," he said.
Earlier this year, Opposition CPM accused the BJP-led state government of destroying peace and tranquillity by being a mute spectator of political violence. CPM state secretary Bijan Dhar said over 750 party offices and over 1,000 trade union offices had been attacked, many of them burnt down apart from violence on party workers. Four CPM workers had been murdered in the past four months of the BJP-IPFT rule, the CPM leaders alleged.
