News Analysis India

Tag: Panisagar

  • Tripura violence: HC orders state government to file affidavit on preventive measures

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Tripura High Court on Friday directed the state government to file affidavits, on or before November 10, on the preventive measures that it took or its plan of “scuttling the design of stoking communal passion or to perpetrate in the violence”.

    The court issued the order after hearing a PIL filed suo-moto in connection with the October 26 violence during a rally organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Panisagar sub-division of North Tripura district against the vandalism of Durga Puja pandals and Hindu temples in Bangladesh.

    A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Subhashish Talapatra, directed the government to file an affidavit stating the stages at which the investigation was going on and if any accused was apprehended.

    The court said various cases had been registered pursuant to the October 26 violence and incidents which took place before that. The Advocate General (AG) provided a brief note indicating some of the steps taken by the government to restore communal harmony as well as action taken against the perpetrator of the violence.

    The AG said it was observed that many pictures and videos were circulated on social media and they did not pertain to the incident. “Prima facie, it was also seen that videos/pictures belonging to other incidents happened outside state/outside country have been morphed and was being shown as relating to the present incident. These videos and pictures have potential to disturb the communal harmony in the state,” the AG said.

    To this, the court directed the government to initiate appropriate action against all such social media platforms in order to ensure that such false, fictitious and or fabricated news or footages do not come on to the social media platforms and even if they do so, they are removed at the earliest.

    “This court calls upon the social media platforms to also act responsibly since today. Media has every right, as a part of their activities to publish the truth. It should not be allowed to be used to spread untruth and spread communal passion,” the division bench said.

  • Section 144 clamped in Tripura’s Panisagar and Dharmatala sub-divisions after violence

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The authorities in BJP-ruled Tripura clamped Section 144 of the CrPC in two sub-divisions after a procession, taken out by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday against the series of attacks on the religious institutions of minority communities in neighbouring Bangladesh, turned violent.

    Official sources said that the measures were taken as there was a strong apprehension of breach of peace and public tranquility. The violence was reported from Panisagar and Dharmatala sub-divisions in North Tripura district. The protestors allegedly pelted stones at a mosque and torched some houses and shops.

    1/4Some vested interests are trying to disturb the peaceful communal situation of Tripura. Tripura Police requests every citizen of Tripura to help it in maintaining law and order and peace in Tripura.#Tripura
    — Tripura Police (@Tripura_Police) October 27, 2021
    In a series of tweets, the Tripura police said some elements were spreading rumours. “Certain persons by using fake social media IDs are spreading fake news/rumours on Tripura. It is informed that law & order situation in the State is absolutely normal,” the police tweeted.

    “We request people of all communities not to support & subscribe to such fake IDs and do not spread such fake pictures. We have already registered cases and Legal action will be taken against all those spreading fake news and communally sensitive rumours,” another tweet reads.

    Two cases were registered in connection with the violence. One was registered suo motu by the administration while the other was registered based on an FIR filed by some minority organisations, demanding action against the perpetrators of the crime.

    The Left parties and the Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of supporting the right wing organisations to gain political mileage in the civic elections to be held next month and the Assembly elections in 2023. The BJP rubbished the charge. The party said action would be taken against all those involved in the violence.

    For the past few days, the VHP has been staging protests in parts of the state against the incidents in Bangladesh.