Agartala : The Congress in Tripura Monday called a 12-hour shutdown in the Left-ruled state Nov 20 to protest a police baton charge on party workers and to demand a CBI probe into alleged corruption in many blocks.
“At least 25 Congress workers were injured when police resorted to baton charge to disperse party workers in Agartala. The Congress workers Monday organised a civil disobedience movement demanding an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged financial irregularities in some blocks,” a police official said.
He said some policemen were also injured in the scuffle.
However, according to Congress sources, around 100 Congress workers, including party leaders Sudip Roy Barman and Ashish Saha, were injured in the baton charge.
Tripura Congress working president Saha said the party has called a 12-hour strike Nov 20 to protest the baton charge and to demand a CBI inquiry.
The Congress has alleged that Rs.400-Rs.500 crore have been embezzled in the last two financial years in Tripura.
“During the Left regime, in just two financial years, 2011-12 and 2012-13, Rs.400-Rs.500 crore was misappropriated in various government departments,” Roy Barman said.
“We approached the prime minister, union rural development minister, CBI director, Tripura governor and state chief secretary to conduct a thorough inquiry to uncover the scam. But no action has been taken yet,” he said.
He said only an inquiry by the CBI can bring to light the swindling of central government funds sanctioned to implement various schemes in the state.
The Congress had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Tripura High Court Oct 27 seeking a CBI probe into the siphoning off of huge government funds.
“The Tripura government has now topped the list of corrupt state governments in India,” Roy Barman said.
He accused Chief Minister Manik Sarkar of remaining a mute spectator to the corruption in government departments in the state.
Meanwhile, the government suspended a civil service officer and 11 government officials for their alleged involvement in a Rs.17 crore scam in Bishalgarh block.
In another move, the health and family welfare department ordered an inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of Rs.30 crore, sanctioned by the central government for implementation of the National Health Mission in northern Tripura.