Agartala, Aug. 23: The Indigenous Peoples Front of Twipra (IPFT) today resorted to violence and arson while taking out a procession here to commemorate autonomous district council (ADC) Day, resulting in injury to more than 40 people.

The procession of IPFT cadres, who were armed with weapons like clubs and spears, started moving through the town at 1.45pm but trouble started at 2.20pm when the unruly cadres attacked a woman and her child in Surya Chowmuhuni locality for trying to cross the road through a gap in the procession. Both sustained serious injuries and had to be hospitalised.

Trouble escalated as non-tribal people, including youths and shopkeepers, retaliated. A group of non-tribal youths severely beat up four tribal youths in the procession in front of Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan. The IPFT cadres then went on the rampage, attacking businessmen, pedestrians and roadside shopkeepers. Police sources said at least two police jeeps, 20 motorbikes, two Scooties and two private cars were burnt in the violence.

On two earlier occasions, including last year, IPFT cadres, out to commemorate ADC Day, had created trouble by beating up people. Yet, the police took no preventive measures this time. The ADC Day is commemorated on August 23 as it was on this date in 1984 that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had amended the Constitution to extend the provisions of Sixth Schedule to Tripura ADC.

Later, police rushed to the spot, dispersed the irate mob and sent all the injured persons to GB Hospital. The police and TSR jawans had to resort to firing in the air to control the situation.

Finally, to tackle the situation, director-general of police K. Nagraj, superintendent of police (West) Abhijeet Saptarshi and other senior officials rushed to the spot and the West Tripura district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in the town to prevent further violence.

Chief minister Manik Sarkar called an emergency meeting of the state cabinet to discuss the situation.

The state government also called in the Assam Rifles to control the situation.

A large number of tribal supporters and workers of IPFT, who had come for the procession and subsequent meeting at Swami Vivekananda stadium, remained stranded there under security cover provided by Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and Assam Rifles jawans.

A large number of non-tribal youths, tense by the IPFT attacks, stood around the stadium to attack unruly IPFT workers but they were dispersed by security personnel.