Swarnadebi Tripura, wife of Khagrachhari Hill District Council Chairman Monindra Lal Tripura, speaks at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity office yesterday. Photo: STAR

Family members of detained Khagrachhari District Council Chairman Monindra Lal Tripura yesterday demanded his release and withdrawal of the case against him saying it was false.

At a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium, Monindra Lal's wife Sharnadebi Tripura alleged that Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) NBK Tripura and Assistant Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Bidhan Tripura had conspired against her husband.

She said the police statement that her husband was arrested when he went into hiding is not true as he was under police protection at that time.

“So how he could he be arrested as fugitive?” asked Sharnadebi.

She also alleged that the AIGP had brought allegation of murder against her husband to clear the path for his elder brother Rana Bikram Tripura to make him the next chairman of Khagrachhari district council.

Swarnadebi said Anupam, over whose death Monindra Lal was arrested, died of excessive drinking.

She sought the intervention of the president, chief adviser, home adviser and inspector general of police to release her husband and give them security.

Monindra Lal's son Pankajmay Tripura, daughter Rakhi Tripura, Convener of Bangladesh Tripura Jubo Oikya Parishad Khani Ranjan Tripura and Mostak Ahmed Chowdhury of Shamo Odhikar Andolon were present at the press conference.