Attack outside house of ex-CM Biplab Kumar Deb unrealistic; police should be more diligent: Tripura High Court

The Tripura High Court last week expressed concerns over the violent clashes outside the house of former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and urged the Police to be more diligent to avoid such incidents in future [Court on its own motion vs State of Tripura]..A division bench of Acting Chief Justice T Amarnath Goud and Justice Arindam Lodh said that it was "unrealistic" that the incident took place outside the house of the former Chief Minister and present Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), who enjoys “Z Plus” category security."When the programme was well informed, the security arrangements, sensitizing of threat perception, law and order situation needed to be reviewed. But in this present scenario, it appears that the police department could have been more diligent. Such incidents would give scope for a citizen to comment upon the competence of the police department," the bench said in its order passed on January 24.The bench, therefore, directed the Secretary of the State Home Ministry to hand over the responsibility of the cases to Superintendent of Police having jurisdiction for investigation and to file appropriate reports in accordance with law before the competent court and authority..The bench had taken suo motu cognizance of the violent clashes between BJP and CPI(M) outside Deb's house on January 3, when the rituals commemorating the death anniversary of Deb’s father, Hirudhan Deb was going on.The bench had, on January 4, noted that a group of CPI(M) assailants had ransacked and damaged some vehicles which were parked near Deb's house. It had also noted that an advocate and some priests from some other State were present in the house to perform the rituals but the sudden attack sparked chaos and tension among the common people present at the spot. It was assumed the miscreants decided to attack Deb’s house in a planned manner to scare people and create disturbances in the area, the court noted. .When the matter was taken up on January 24, advocate general SS Dey assisted by advocate A Chakraborty informed the judges that one person has been arrested in this case and the probe with regard to ransacking and damaging of vehicles, apart from some shops, is underway. Dey assured the court that the investigation is being supervised by a senior officer and the matter will be expeditiously probed. The advocate general also assured that none will be spared.The Court disposed of the proceedings after recording the statement of the advocate general. .[Read Order]