Congress-called shutdown evokes mixed response in Agartala

AGARTALA - The opposition Congress-sponsored dawn to dusk shutdown Thursday in the Tripura capital to protest the killing of a Youth Congress leader two days ago saw many shops and business establishments remaining closed and attendance in offices thin.

“Around 50 Congress activists were arrested in the capital city when they tried to enforce the 12-hour shutdown,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (central) Harimohan Debnath. The shutdown call evoked only partial response, officials said.

Shops and business establishments in the capital city and on the outskirts remained closed while attendance in government offices and educational institutions was thin. Very little traffic was seen on the roads. However, no untoward incident was reported.

Tripura Youth Congress vice-president Mantu Das was shot dead by some people at his house Tuesday midnight.

“Armed miscreants stormed Das’ house here and fired at him from point blank range. A friend of his was injured,” West Tripura district police chief K.V. Sreejesh told IANS.

On the basis of a First Information Report filed by Das’ brother, the victim’s wife has been arrested, while one more person named in the complaint is absconding, police said. Police also recovered a revolver from the spot.

Security has been tightened in the capital city and its outskirts with the deployment of additional police forces.

The ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has opposed the ‘uncalled for’ strike.

“The murder of Mantu Das was due to internal enmity and related to a business dispute. Calling a strike is an attempt to divert people’s attention from the party’s internal feud,” the CPI-M said in a statement.