Draft:Madhabbari Police Firing

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On 8 January 2019, police officers fired on members of the Twipra Students' Federation (TSF) during a protest in Madhabbari, Jirania, West Tripura against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Five civilians were injured, and one officer was injured by protesters.

Background[edit]

In January 2019, the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) called for a complete shutdown of all seven states in the North Eastern region of India to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill.[1][2]

Incident[edit]

On 8 January 2019, Twipra Students' Federation, a tribal-based student organization and constituent of NESO, blocked the Assam-Agartala National Highway at Madhabbari near Jirania in Tripura.[3] Several hundred protesters participated. The protesters burnt atleast 22 shops in the area.[4][5][6][7] The CRPF and Tripura State Rifles jawans took recourse to lathi-charge and deployed tear gas shells to quell the unrest and regain control of the situation.[8][4][9][10] The police enforced Section 144 and instructed the protesters to disperse. On refusing to disperse, the jawans opened fire on the protestors.[11][12][13]

Victims[edit]

In total, six people were injured: five civilians were injured by gunfire, and TSR Jawan Dinesh Kumar was injured when protesters threw stones and bottles at security personnel. The five civilians were Sumit Debbarma, Lalit Mohan Debbarma, Sankar Debbarma, Pohar Debbarma and Rabi Debbarma.[14][15][16][17]

Reactions[edit]

Then-Chief Minister of Tripura Biplab Kumar Deb said: "This role of police is not tolerable. Police personnel engaged for public safety cannot disrupt peace.”[18] Former Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Sarkar also criticized the action of. police, saying “All those shot (by police) during the protest, except one, sustained bullet injuries on their back, indicating they were running away. I think firing on them was perhaps not necessary".[19][20]

The Asian Human Rights Commission called for an immediate inquiry to investigate the firing and prosecute and punish the guilty officers. The authorities must also provide medical assistance to the victims.[21]

The Left Front (Tripura) convenor Bijan Dhar termed this incident "state sponsored terror."[22]

Aftermath[edit]

Twipra Students Federation declared 8 January as Black Day in Tripura.[23][24][25][26]

Government response[edit]

The Tripura government initiated a magisterial inquiry into the violence that transpired in Madhabbari, West Tripura district. Additionally, the government banned on SMS and mobile internet services for two days apprehending law and order in the state.[27][28]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Deb, Debraj (8 January 2019). "Citizenship bill protests: Students block NH8 in Tripura, 5 hurt in police lathi charge, blank fire". The Indian Express. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  2. ^ Ali, Syed Sajjad (10 January 2019). "Tripura CM orders probe into Madhav Bari violence". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  3. ^ "NESO expresses solidarity with TSF | The Arunachal Times". 10 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Citizenship Bill: 6 tribal youths injured in police firing in Tripura". Business Standard. IANS. 8 January 2019.
  5. ^ Ali, Syed Sajjad (10 January 2019). "BJP blames CPI(M) for Madhav Bari violence". The Hindu.
  6. ^ Ali, Syed Sajjad (9 January 2019). "Anti-Citizenship Bill protests: BJP claims CPI(M) hand in Tripura violence". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Amid Citizenship Amendment Bill protests, video of Tripura Police attacking ambulance carrying injured goes viral". Firstpost. 10 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Tripura: 6 tribal youths injured in police firing during protest against Bill". NORTHEAST NOW. 8 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Manik Sarkar seeks judicial probe into Madhabbari clashes". Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  10. ^ Deb, Debraj (10 January 2019). "Citizenship bill: Fear grips residents after Madhabbari clashes, Tripura govt orders probe". The Indian Express. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Citizenship Bill: Uproar in Tripura Tribal Areas Over Police Firing on Protesters". The Wire.
  12. ^ "Tripura Orders Magisterial Probe Into Police Firing on Tribal Youths". Sentinel Assam. 11 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Police fire at protesters of Citizenship Amendment Bill, mobile internet services suspended in Tripura". India Today.
  14. ^ Chakraborty, Tanmoy. "Tripura students body wants CM to quit after cops file case". www.telegraphindia.com.
  15. ^ "INDIA: Police officers open fire at peaceful protestors in Tripura". Asian Human Rights Commission.
  16. ^ Deb, Debraj (29 January 2019). "Citizenship Bill: 21 days after Madhabbari clashes, bullet victim yet to get treatment bills reimbursed". The Indian Express. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Tripura against CAB: Critically wounded protester, family recount horrific Madhab Bari incident of January 8". thenortheasttoday.com. 1 February 2019.
  18. ^ "Madhab Bari firing incident probed: Legal action against SDPO and Doctor | Tripuraindia".
  19. ^ Deb, Debraj (14 January 2019). "Citizenship bill: Former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar says police action on protesters unnecessary". The Indian Express. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Manik Sarkar: Tripura Police firing on protestors unwarranted". NORTHEAST NOW. 14 January 2019.
  21. ^ "Police officers open fire at peaceful protesters in Tripura". The Asian Chronicle. 27 May 2019.
  22. ^ Sinha, Rahul. "Meanwhile in Tripura | Peoples Democracy". peoplesdemocracy.in. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  23. ^ "TSF Marks January 8 as Black Day, holds stir across state". Tripura Chronicle. 8 January 2024.
  24. ^ Deb Barman, Priyanka (7 January 2024). "Tribal organisation to hold black day in Tripura on Jan 8 to protest against CAA". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  25. ^ "TSF observes 'Black Day' against police firing". tripuratimes.com.
  26. ^ Panday, Chandan (8 January 2020). "Tripura students observe black day against police firing". EastMojo. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  27. ^ "Tripura govt orders magisterial inquiry into Madhabbari clashes, SMS, mobile internet ban extended". India Today. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Tripura Govt orders magisterial probe into Madhabbari firing". assamtribune.com. 15 September 2010.

Category:Police misconduct in India Category:Police brutality in India Category:2019 in India