Agartala, July 1 : The opposition CPI-M and Congress blamed the collective failure on the part of management and the administration in the chariot tragedy on June 28 last at Kumarghat of Unokoti district in North Tripura, in which as many as seven people, including three children, were killed and at least 20 injured.
A Congress delegation led by PCC president Ashis Kumar Saha and CPI-M delegation led by former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar separately visited the victims’ families in different locations and hospitals separately and assured them of extending all support to book the culprits responsible for the tragedy.
They spoke to the local people, police, and administrative officials to ascertain what prompted the incident and alleged, “It is understood there was a sudden decision for diversion of the route at the eleventh hour led to devastating consequences. Moreover, the high-tension low height electric line on National Highway was also found unusual for which the iron-made chariot tip came to contact electricity.”
Meanwhile, PCC President Asish Saha also visited the spot and spoke to the victim’s families. He demanded the constitution of a high-level committee to find out who is responsible for the incident and asked the police to start an investigation on the case that was filed against ISKCON who had organized the Rathyatra (procession of the chariot).
Earlier, the Officer-in-charge of Kumarghat police station Shankar Saha said that the organizers had diverted the procession route without any intimation to the administration and said, “The procession was not supposed to move on the National Highway and they were permitted to roll the chariot in other direction, but last minute direction was changed and we had nothing to do.”
He said Pancham Das, whose brother Rupak Das (40) and nephew Rohan Das (9) were burnt alive on the street along with five others filed a complaint against the organizer and police registered a case under Section 304 of Indian Penal Code and started investigation.
Meanwhile, as decided by the government, the District Magistrate of Unakoti, T K Chakma has begun a magisterial inquiry into the tragic incident. The Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath has also directed Tripura Electricity Corporation (TSECL) to conduct a separate inquiry on the allegations that the high-tension electricity line was erected on the highway and that too at a low height.
The TSECL has also diverse a cash compensation of Rupees one lakh to each of the deceased family and Rs 50,000 to the injured persons apart from the state government and Prime Minister’s ex gratia. The local BJP MLA Bhagaban Das has announced to spend his five months’ salary and perks to help Rs 50,000 to each of the deceased families and Rs 10,000 to each of the injured persons.
