Tripura tribal council's ruling members attack Opp leader

AGARTALA, February 3: The Tripura tribal areas' autonomous district council witnessed unruly scenes today after ruling party members made an unsuccessful attempt to physically assault the Opposition's leader, Radhacharan Debbarma. The council had today held a day's session at Khumulung near Agartala to pass the Bill for creating the post of a deputy chairman for the council. Trouble began after a section of the ruling Indigenous People's Front of Tripura members suddenly became excited over the Opposition's denial to support the Bill, and rushed towards Debbarma in an apparent move "to teach him a lesson". A scuffle ensued as watch and ward staff members of the House tried to resist the angry IPFT members. Earlier presenting the Bill the chief executive member, Debabrata Koloi, told the council that it was brought in pursuance of the provision of the Constitution's sixth schedule. The Opposition members later walked out of the House to protest against the IPFT members' unruly behaviour. Debbarma said: "The IPFT is trying to terrorise the Left Front Opposition in the council." He alleged that the IPFT was misusing council funds, earmarked for development of the poor tribesmen, for their own personal interests. A sizeable share of council funds was going to the ultras, he added. The Opposition leader said that the IPFT leaders did not fulfil even a single promise it had given to the hill electorates before the elections last April for the tribal autonomous body. Moreover, the proposal for creating the post of a deputy chairman was absolutely unnecessary, he said. The Council, however, passed the Bill in the Opposition's absence. Meanwhile, the state's minister for tribal welfare, Aghore Debbarma, accused the IPFT for indulging in violence in Tripura's hill areas. He alleged that the IPFT men had killed the local CPI-M leader, Dilip Debbarma, at Mendi in Dhalai district in January 2000. "IPFT killers are operating in the guise of armed undergrounds," he added. He said, the IPFT did not implement even a single scheme for hill development after coming to power. "Now IPFT activists are terrorising the hill people not to raise their voice against the council leaders' corruption, nepotism and unlawful activities," he alleged.