With firefighter Biswajit Debbarma succumbing to his injuries on Sunday, the death toll in the Tripura violence rose to two, and the number of injured reached 35.
The agitation and indefinite shutdown continued for the seventh day in northern Tripura's Kanchanpur subdivision where people are opposing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Tripura government's decision to rehabilitate thousands of Reang or “Bru” tribal refugees.
The Reang tribal refugees sheltered in seven relief camps in two northern Tripura sub-divisions had fled to adjoining Mizoram 23 years ago, following ethnic strife in the state.
Northern Tripura Deputy Inspector General of police, Lalhminga Darlong, told IANS on Sunday that one firefighter had died on late Saturday night at the Govind Ballabh Pant Medical college and hospital (GBPMCH) in Agartala.
Earlier, the police said 45-year-old Srikanta Das from Tripura was shot dead and 35 others injured, including security and fire service personnel, besides, agitators were also critically injured on Saturday when police opened fired at the violent mob which had attacked the security forces at Panisagar in North Tripura district.
North Tripura District Magistrate and Collector Nagesh Kumar said the violent mob damaged three government and police vehicles, including a motorbike. He told the media that a huge contingent of security forces, including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Tripura state Rifle troopers, led by senior police officials were mobilised at Panisagar and Kanchanpur sub-divisions in the North Tripura district to deal with the situation.
The injured persons were admitted to various government hospitals, including GBPMCH.
Tripura government spokesman and Law and Education Minister, Ratan Lal Nath, said the state government would provide Rs five lakh compensation to the family of the deceased Srikanta Das.
“A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the police firing. If the agitators want talks with Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb they are free to do so. The Tripura government's doors for dialogue are always open,” Nath told IANS on Sunday.
The minister said the state government with the help of the Central government had earlier announced that 35,000 Reang tribal or “Bru” refugees, who fled from Mizoram would be rehabilitated in the state's eight districts and not only in North Tripura district.
Tripura police tweeted, saying, “The unfortunate incident at North Tripura was a law and order issue, but several videos are being circulated on social media giving it a communal violence spin, which is a punishable legal offence.”
“Even after facing violent attacks, the police personnel maintained restraint and sensitivity in controlling law and order and used proportionate forces for self- defence in the Panisagar incident on Saturday.”