A team of poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s I-PAC has allegedly been confined to a hotel in Tripura’s capital Agartala where they have been camping to assess support base for Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The members of Kishor’s Indian Political Action Committee are allegedly being questioned by the local police. As per sources in the IPAC, the Tripura Police are allegedly not allowing them to leave the hotel premises.
Kishor’s team reached Tripura last week to assess political situation, in an attempt to expand TMC’s presence in the northeastern state.
Superintendent of Police, West Tripura, Manik Das, claimed that members of Kishor’s team are being questioned in a Agartala city-based hotel, as part of a routine check-up.
“The outsiders — around 22 persons were roaming around in various places. Since COVID restrictions are in place, we are enquiring to verify the reasons behind their arrival and stay in the city. They all underwent Covid tests on Monday, the reports are awaited,” Das told reporters.
TMC cries foul
Meanwhile, TMC’s Tripura unit called it “an attack on democracy” and said they were confined to their hotel by the police.
TMC chief of Tripura unit Ashish Lal Singha, hit out at the BJP, saying it has “panicked” following the overwhelming response and support to TMC due to the “misrule” of the Tripura government.
“It’s an attack on democracy. Being a resident of Tripura, I am shocked. It’s not Tripura’s culture… The I-PAC team has been under detention since Sunday night in a hotel. However, the police are saying it’s a part of routine check-up,” said Singh.
He further said the I-PAC team, comprising 23 members, are in the state to conduct a survey at ground zero and assess the prospect of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party in the next Assembly election in 2023.
Police denies detention charges
The district police chief, however, refuted Singh’s allegation that the I-PAC team was under detention and said it was a routine process.
“They were not detained. We are now verifying their documents,” Officer-in-charge of East Agartala police station Saroj Bhattacharjee said, PTI reported.
