Tripura: Blood donation venue triggers CPIM-BJP political clash

A proposed blood donation camp at Sonaichari market under Belonia sub-division had set off a political scuffle between the party workers of CPIM and BJP leaving a number of CPIM party workers injured in Tripura.

The incident on the occasion of World Blood Donors day evoked massive repercussions from various walks of the society and also prompted the people to blame the police for its inaction. A steady political blame game centering the issue also steadily spiraled up in the social media.

According to local sources, both the political parties BJP and CPIM’s youth and students’ wing—DYFI and SFI took initiatives to organize a blood donation camp at the residence of one local Forest range officer. At the same time, the BJP supporters were also preparing for a blood donation camp at the market area.

Also read: Tripura: Clay artisans see livelihood shaved off amid COVID-19 pandemic

As soon as the blood transfusion vehicle reached the spot, the tension began. The ruling party supporters went to the proposed venue of CPIM leaders and prevented them to organize the camp there. According to a press statement issued by DYFI, the miscreants backed by the ruling party laid a siege surrounding their proposed venue and prevented them from organizing the programme. Soon a political scuffle broke out between both the political groups with some of the CPIM leaders sustaining serious injuries.

“Setting yet another example of inhuman behavior, the BJP miscreants prevented our supporters from participating in a blood donation camp when all the blood banks of the state are grappling with the scarcity of blood units. We have to send 2 of our party workers to Goamati district hospital for better treatment and other to the local hospital”, said DYFI Tripura Secretary Nabarun Deb.

However, the blood donation camp was later conducted at the temple premises of Ram Thakur Ashram located in the vicinity of the market. The ruling party workers claimed they had placed a proposal to organize a blood donation camp before the CPIM.

According source in the health department, the authorities did know there would be a blood donation camp but there were no specific name as to which organization would be doing organizing it. The blood transfusion council vehicle also seemed unknown as to where the camp was to be organized.

Meanwhile, Tripura SDPO Belonia Somya Debbarma said, “Our rapid response team rushed to the spot as soon as we had been informed about the incident. But, we failed to found anyone there. The CPIM leader complained to us but did not register any FIR or for that matter, no one failed any FIR pertaining to any political clash in the area”.

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