Tripura: Four cops suspended in connection with anti-rumour campaigner’s death

AGARTALA, July 5, 2018: Four jawans, including an assistant sub-inspector, a constable and two riflemen on were suspended by state police of Tripura State Rifles (TSR) for reportedly failing to control the violence that led to the killing of an anti-rumour campaigner last month in Sabroom's Kalacherra of South Tripura district, officials said on Wednesday.

"An inquiry is on to know their role on that day as they were deployed along the market area," inspector general of police (law and order) KV Sreejesh said.

"We have started the process of identifying the persons involved in the incident. Hope, we would crack it soon," Sreejesh added.

When asked if the police and TSR jawans were carrying firearms when the mob lynched Sukanta to death, the inspector-general of police said they did not have any such weapons with them. "We did not give any order not to carry firearms. We have to find out whether there was a lapse on their part."

Sukanta Chakraborty, 33, was engaged by the state government's department of information and cultural affairs to campaign against rumour-mongering, which gained momentum following the murder of an 11-year-old child at Mohanpur in West Tripura. Sukanta was appealing to the people to stay calm and avoid rumours when a mob halted him and beat him to death.

Chakraborty's family has alleged that the negligence of police administration led to his death.

TNT-The Northeast Today News with inputs from The Hindustan Times

Featured image: Representation