Agartala, October 6: Tension was reported at several counting centres in Tripura on Monday during counting of votes for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Village Committee elections, with road blockades and protests in Sepahijala and Dhalai districts and security forces resorting to a lathi-charge in Khowai, officials and local sources said.
According to State Election Commission data updated at 2.30 pm, results for 2,270 of the 4,594 Village Committee seats had been declared.
TIPRA Motha had won 1,985 seats, followed by the BJP with 232, independents 22, CPI(M) 12, Congress 10 and IPFT nine. No seats had been won by AIFB, CPI, CPI(ML)L or RSP at that stage.
In Kathalia block of Sepahijala district, tension was reported at Poly Bari Class XII English Medium School, where counting was underway for five ADC-based Village Committees.
Local inputs said supporters of TIPRA Motha had blocked roads leading to the counting centre since morning and allegedly prevented supporters of other political parties from reaching the premises. There were also allegations that some personnel engaged in counting were not being allowed to enter the centre properly.
Leaders of several political parties staged a protest outside Jatrapur police station over the situation. Sepahijala Superintendent of Police Bijoy Debbarma was present at Jatrapur, according to the inputs.
In Salema block, CPI(M) workers and supporters staged a road blockade at Maharani after alleging that their counting agents were prevented from entering the Maharani High School counting centre and were forced out by TIPRA Motha supporters.
The CPI(M) also alleged that identification cards of some of its agents were snatched.
"We came to the centre as counting agents, but TIPRA Motha supporters stopped us and beat up some of our members. Our agent cards were taken away," a CPI(M) agent alleged.
Separately, at Bharat Sardar Vidyalaya, the designated counting centre under Tulashikhar Rural Development Block in Khowai district, police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel resorted to a lathi-charge after tension escalated outside the premises.
Local sources said people gathered outside the centre allegedly tried to remove security barricades and move towards the counting centre, leading to a confrontation with security personnel.
Around 10 to 12 people, including women, were reportedly injured and taken to Khowai district hospital. Their condition was not immediately known.
Meanwhile, counting at Mohanbhog block was reported to be proceeding without disruption.
Counting began at 8 am at 44 centres across the state. Polling for 587 Village Committees was held on September 28, with an approximate turnout of 81 per cent. Elections were held for 2,950 seats, while the remaining seats were decided uncontested.
