AGARTALA, Jan 12 (TIWN): As after four days of Jirania Police firing incident which left 6 youths injured, no action was taken against police, rather fabricated cases were imposed on Tiprasa agitators who protesting against Citizenship Bill on the National Highway at Madhabbari in Jirania ended by police firing, INPT and regional parties have been observing 12 hours strike at ADC area today. Security has been beefed up centering the ‘bandh’, whereas in a separate issue one BJP MLA Surajit Datta has called for 12-hrs-strike at Ramnagar in Agartala. Section 144 has been imposed at Ramnagar and all sensitive ADC areas. The regional parties chief demand is the resignation of Chief Minister Biplab Deb from Chief Ministry as well as Home Ministry. The four more demands are Judicial inquiry in Jirania violence incident, at least 25 lakhs of compensation to the victims of Jirania violence, withdrawal of fabricated cases filed against 500 agitators and Judicial investigation in the Jirania violence. Till now no untoward incident was reported so far. Internet shutdown continues on the fourth consecutive day.

On the background of the strike, calling a press conference INPT General Secretary Jagadish Debbarma said, “Since 2 pm to evening we had a long meeting today with a very important issue centering Jirania incident of January 8, 2019. North East Student Organization (NESO) has called for a Northeast-wide strike on that day and in Tripura also it was observed backed by various regional parties. The strike was going on peacefully, but unfortunately police without any necessity brutally attacked on the agitators. NCT, Tipraland State Party, INPT, IPFT (Tipraha), DYB, TPF and other parties leaders were present in that meeting. We discussed about the incident of January 8 and the brutal attack of police was condemned. Against the attack and with four points of demands we have decided to go in 12 hours strike in ADC areas and if our demands are not fulfilled then the movement will be bigger”.

Their 4-point demands are : 1)    Resignation of Biplab Deb, 2)    Judicial investigation under one sitting judge of High Court, 3)    Compensation of at least 25 lakhs to the police firing victims or one Govt job in their families, 4)    Police is preparing for FIR and punishment to the agitators. Those cases should be  immediately cancelled.

Regional parties have supported the strike.The regional party leaders also mentioned that the attack was BJP-IPFT’s planning as they do not want any other opposition can hold protest or practice democratic rights and that’s why INPT had to go to High Court. In this way, BJP-IPFT Govt can not stop Tiprasa voice, the leader said.