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GUWAHATI: Clashes erupted between the supporters of a tribal-based political party and non-tribals during a rally in Tripura capital Agartala yesterday leaving nearly 100 people injured, some of them grievously, and several vehicles were set ablaze. Tribal-based ‘Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura’ (IPFT) organized the rally to mark its eighth ‘Tipraland’ Statehood Demand Day. The violence broke out in the afternoon when a non-tribal woman and her child were trying to cross a road through a gap in the rally. When they were trying to do so, some IPFT supporters attacked them, injuring them grievously. Later, sections of those in the rally went on the rampage, attacking pedestrians and shopkeepers and torching vehicles. Retaliation by the non-tribals followed soon when news about the attack on the mother-child duo spread far and wide. Section 144 of the CrPC had been imposed in Agartala to thwart any untoward incident and the situation was said to be tense but under control, official sources said. Over 50 workers and supporters of the party were injured and hospitalized, IPFT leader Rajeswar Debbarma told media. Between 1984 and 2008, August 23 had been observed as ADC (Autonomous District Council) formation day. But from 2009, the IPFT has been observing the day as separate statehood demand day. The clashes on Tuesday coincided with by-election under Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council in the Simna-Tamakari seat. ]]>
