The National Human Rights Commission has sought an action taken report from the Tripura chief secretary and DGP within four weeks following a complaint over “rising political violence and violence against persons from religious minority community” in that state.
The complaint was lodged by Trinamul national spokesperson Saket Gokhale on October 27, seeking immediate cognisance of the political violence as well as violence against the minorities and their places of worship.
He had, among others, mentioned about the October 26 vandalism of two houses, shops and a mosque in the North Tripura district during a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) rally which attracted widespread attention and criticism.
“The NHRC has now passed an order on my complaint asking for a detailed action taken report from the Chief Secretary & Director General of Police, Tripura on the shocking violence unleashed against Muslims in Tripura WITHIN 4 weeks,” Gokhale tweeted on Wednesday over the commission’s order issued on Tuesday.
Gokhale had also sought deputing an “unbiased” fact-finding team to Tripura, a detailed report from the state government on the incidents and exemplary action against those involved in the violence.
The November 2 NHRC order has mentioned the complainant’s allegation that the state machinery “acted as a bystander by siding with the rioting mob” and that there prevails an “atmosphere of immense fear” among members of the minority community in that area with regard to their life and safety.
Besides seeking the action taken report, the NHRC in its order has also asked the chief secretary and the DGP to apprise the commission if they have received any order from state human rights commission. “If yes, a copy of such order be also sent to the commission with four weeks,” the order said.
A copy of the complaint will also be sent to the state human rights commission so that it could inform the NHRC within four weeks the date of cognisance, if any, taken at its end in the case.
The NHRC order also demanded an action taken report on the violent attacks on Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev and Trinamul workers by the BJP goons, Gokhale tweeted. The alleged attack took place on October 22.
Before the NHRC, the High Court of Tripura had initiated a suo motu PIL based on newspaper reports about violence in three districts on October 26 in retaliation to attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh during the Durga Puja.
The court intervention came after vandalism took place during a VHP rally on October 26 in North Tripura’s Panisagar sub-division in protest against the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. The violence spread to Unakoti and Sipahijala districts.
The court had directed the government to file multiple affidavits by November 10, including preventive measures that have been taken or its plans to scuttle “the design of stoking communal passion or to perpetrate violence. One of the affidavits should also apprise about the status of the investigation into the cases filed and arrests made in these cases, if any. The case will be heard on November 12.”
Gokhale in another tweet said, “We WILL fight back against the large scale violence unleashed in Tripura against Muslims & @AITC4Tripura workers by the BJP govt & Sangh Parivar even if no one else does. Justice must happen & @BjpBiplab has to answer. #TripuraViolence.”
Tripura advocate-general S.S. Dey had submitted before the court that there has been no alleged widespread disturbances and violence in the Muslim areas of the state as repercussion to attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.
“There has been no injury, casualty and desecration of religious places,” Dey had said.
The state Jamiat had moved the government last month seeking security for mosques and Muslims.
Tripura has a Muslim population of about four lakh. BJP heads a coalition government in Tripura with the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT).