Tripura government has suspended six officials of Tripura State Rifles (TSR) 12th battalion including it’s commandant, a senior IPS officer, on the charge of atrocity and barbaric assault on two jawans over duty related dispute, 10 days ago in the camp.
Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who also holds the Home portfolio, has ordered an immediate enquiry into the charges. He has asserted that the government would not spare anyone found guilty of unethical activities in any department or organisation.
“We will not tolerate any sort of illegal and unethical act by any individual at any level,” Deb told media, adding that the BJP-IPFT government has been working to reestablish rule of law and ensure good governance for the people, which had eroded during the communist rule of 24 years.
According to reports, Bhojveer Singh Chauhan from Madhya Pradesh and Jagadish Chawla from Rajasthan, attached with Unit MI Room of 12-Bn TSR, were severely assaulted by five persons- Bipul Ranjan De (Naib Shubedar), Kamal Paul (Havilder), Raju Dhar (Havilder), Mahawar Das (Naik) and Satyabrata Sinha (Naik) on May 11 and 12 last.
They were attacked with iron bars and other hard objects. They, reportedly, committed the barbaric act following an altercation over their duty. The incident came to light when injured TSR jawan Chauhan was admitted to Agartala Govt Medical College (AGMC) in serious condition two days ago.
However, police came to know that Chawla, somehow, managed to escape the attackers and spent the night in nearby CRPF camp. He left the next morning for his hometown, without informing anybody.
Chauhan, on the other hand, was left uncared in the battalion headquarters for four-five days, while the accused commandant of the battalion Rati Ranjan Debnath concealed the incident and did not take any step for his treatment. He also did not initiate any disciplinary action against the accused.
Three days ago when Chauhan’s situation deteriorated, some of his colleagues shifted him to Teliamura hospital from where he was rushed AGMC in critical condition.
The doctors said the torture caused external and internal injuries to Chauhan. The state government has decided to shift him to a hospital outside Tripura if he needs advanced treatment.
The government is also trying to connect with Chawla in Rajasthan to learn about his health condition.
Last night, Debnath was put under immediate suspension on the ground of negligence by the state government, and asked him not to leave Agartala without prior permission.
