Tripura: BJP leader Keshab Sarkar held under NSA; is it political conspiracy?

Police detained 37-year-old BJP leader, Keshab Sarkar from West Tripura’s Jirania under National Security Act which sparked a major controversy and allegations of political conspiracy from the leader’s family.  If police records are anything to go by, Sarkar has a long-standing history political activism. He was sent Bishalgarh Central Jail soon after his arrest.

“Keshab Sarkar was detained and booked under the National Security Act. The District Magistrate issued an order based on his records and history. The detainee was sent to Bishalgarh Central Jail,” West Tripura Superintendent of Police Ajit Pratap Singh was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

Sandeep Namdeo Mahatme, the West Tripura District Magistrate, who ordered the arrest of Sarkar, though said that NSA has a broad spectrum and the arrest doesn’t necessarily mean his involvement in the anti-national activities. “There were detailed reports on the detainee from the police, where it is said that Keshab Sarkar was involved with organised crime. He was detained on that basis and produced before the state NSA Board. The NSA Board had its last hearing on October 25,” Mahatme was quoted.

BJP MLA Sushanta Choudhury also came out in support of Sarkar and criticise the move to arrest him under the NSA. “Keshab is a businessman and an anti-Left soldier for long. He has been close to me since my NSUI days. I had several talks with the CM, who is also the Home Minister. I also spoke to the chief secretary and home secretary,” Choudhury told indianexpress.com.

“I am told by unofficial sources that NSA Board has failed to take a call and they have referred again to the state government for decision. If the government wanted to release him, it could have long back,” Choudhury added, saying that the arrested leader was presented before the NSA board only a couple of days ago.

Sarkar’s mother Sandhyarani Sarkar, however, squarely put the blame on factionalism in the BJP which may have led to her son’s arrest. “They came in a black bus full of central forces late on October 9 night. There were two other smaller vehicles. Someone called my son out of the home and they instantly arrested him. I asked them why he was being arrested. Nobody told us anything and whisked him away,” 60-year-old Sandhyarani Sarkar said on Saturday.

The leader joined the saffron party with six other Congress MLAs following a long anti-Left battle for years. During that period also, Sarkar was charged with political violence too. “They (CPI-M) ransacked our house, stopped my son from getting business licenses, named my son in false cases. The court dropped these cases. But never was my son charged under anti-national activities,” she said.

For the record, outlawed All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) supremo Ranjit Debbarma was arrested in 2013 under NSA. He was charged with waging war against country, conspiracy, abductions and mass murders etc.

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