'Unprecedented reign of terror'

CPI(M) yesterday accused BJP and its poll ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura of unleashing an "unprecedented reign of terror" throughout the state after the election results were announced on March 3.

CPI(M)'s general secretary Sitaram Yechury has announced country-wide protests, accusing the BJP of "thriving on political violence" as clashes broke out between supporters of the two parties in Tripura after assembly election results were announced.

The Leftist party's state secretary Bijan Dhar claimed that 514 party activists were assaulted, 1,539 houses of the party activists were attacked and 196 houses set on fire since the announcement of results.

He also claimed that 134 CPI(M) offices were attacked and looted, 64 party offices were set on fire and at least 90 offices of different mass organisations had been occupied allegedly by BJP-IPFT supporters.

"I appeal to the state administration and the ruling parties to stop this violence.

"In a democratic system, change of government is usual but violence in such grave form is not acceptable by the people," Dhar said.

Reminiscent of the collapse of the Communist regimes in East Europe, a  statue of Vladimir Lenin was pulled down by a mob  armed with an excavator machine at Belonia town in Tripura state, a couple of days after BJP ended the Marxist rule of 25 years there.

South Tripura CPI(M) district secretary Tapas Datta said the five-feet-tall fibre glass statue of Lenin was pulled down allegedly by BJP workers on Monday at College Square in Belonia, about 110 kilometre from Agartala, amidst chants of  'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.

The video footage and photos of the statute of Lenin being brought down went viral on social media and was published in many Indian dailies and websites.

The police said they have received complaints of "post-poll violence" from various parts of the state since Sunday night.

Urging people to maintain peace, the BJP's state unit president, Biplab Deb, who is set to be sworn in as the new chief minister of Tripura, said in a statement that nobody would be spared if they indulge in violence.

BJP trounced the CPI(M)-led Left Front in Tripura, winning a two-thirds majority.