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Police did their job: Tripura CM Biplab Deb on detention of Prashant Kishor's IPAC members
"Police have done their job. This is a bordering state and August 15 is coming, so they have to see who all are coming," Biplab Deb said.
Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb on Thursdays said that everyone is welcome in Tripura but the administration does not interfere in police work and so Police did their job by detaining 23 members of Prashant Kishor's IPAC (Indian Political Action Committee) on Sunday citing Covid norms. A day after they were all tested for Covid. All of them tested negative and on Tuesday night they were released from 'house arrest'. On Thursday, the members were granted pre-arrest bail. Some members of the team, which has reached Tripura on Trinamool Congress assignment, will have to appear before the police on August 1.
The members were reportedly confined to a hotel for questioning by police. Agartala police said that it was a routine interrogation and also a measure amid the ongoing pandemic. “The outsiders-- around 22 persons—were roaming around in various places. Since Covid restrictions are in place, we are enquiring to verify the reasons behind their arrival and stay in the city," Manik Das, Superintendent of Police, West Tripura, said.
The team has been camping in Agartala since last week, but the sudden detention stirred a political battle as Trinamool Congress announced to send Derek O'Brien and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar to Tripura. West Bengal ministers Bratya Basu and Moloy Ghatak were already there in Agartala.
"All are welcome in Tripura. But we don’t interfere in police work. Police have done their job. This is a bordering state and August 15 is coming, so they have to see who all are coming (to the state)," CM Biplab Deb said.
Ahead of elections in 2023, the team is now doing some ground work for Trinamool Congress. They have also held discussion with other political parties to assess the political situation of the BJP-ruled state.
