Attacks on muslims in Tripura were pre-planned: Manik Sarkar

Former Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Sarkar, has alleged that the recent attacks on minority Muslims in the Jirania Sub-division of the West District were pre-planned and intended to foster communal divisions.

Sarkar made these remarks during a visit to the affected area on Thursday, along with senior CPI(M) leaders Pabitra Kar, Manik Dey, and Radha Charan Debbarma.

The incident in question occurred on August 26, when a group of assailants attacked members of the minority Muslim community following the vandalization of a Kali idol in Durga Nagar village, located in the Jirania Sub-division.

Sarkar revealed that despite receiving information about the incident the same night, the police prevented him and his team from visiting the site the following day, citing concerns over maintaining law and order due to the imposition of Section 144 in the area.

“We were asked to cooperate with the police as the situation was volatile, and they feared our visit might escalate tensions. After three attempts, we finally managed to visit the area and speak with the victims,” Sarkar stated.

According to Sarkar, residents described the attacks as premeditated, with the attackers arriving in groups, armed with sharp weapons and chanting "Jai Shri Ram." The attackers reportedly targeted specific households, looting, vandalizing, and setting homes on fire. Sarkar highlighted that even children were not spared, though mothers managed to shield them from harm.

The former Chief Minister also criticized the police for their inaction, stating that despite desperate pleas for help, officers merely advised the victims to hide rather than intervening to prevent the violence. "What happened is a clear attempt to incite religious hatred and create divisions among communities. This isn’t just my observation; it's based on what the victims and local residents have told us," Sarkar concluded.