Agartala, May 11: Beleaguered by mounting allegations of partisanship in all spheres, Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar yesterday asked the state women?s commission to be fair and impartial while dealing with cases of atrocities on women.

?You must rise above all extraneous considerations to work for the welfare of the women in the state,? the chief minister told a delegation of the commission that met him under the leadership of its chairperson, Prof. Champa Dasgupta.

Against the backdrop of mounting crimes against women, the chief minister?s statement, contents of which were released in a press communiqu?, shows dissatisfaction of the state government with the working of the commission.

In the last budget session of the state Assembly, the treasury benches, including the chief minister, had faced criticism for the growing incidence of crime against women as well as for the commission?s failure to provide relief to many of the victims. It had also accused he commission of political bias.

At the time, the chief minister had defended the commission on the floor, but soon afterwards, sought records of its functioning since its reconstitution two years back.

Official sources said the chief minister had been particularly upset over the role of the commission in dealing with the gangrape of tribal housewife Parungmala Tripura on March 6 in Vishnupur village under Sabroom subdivision of the state. It neither registered a case against the culprits nor provided any relief to the victim.

Sources said the chief minister was unhappy with the interference of his own partymen in the working of the commission and did not want it to succumb to any political pressure. ?That is why he told members of the commission, including the chairperson, to remain fair and impartial in their activities,? they said.