Tripura court sends 8 anti-Waqf Act ‘protesters’ to 10 days in jail

Agartala: A local court in Kailashahar under Tripura's Unakoti district on Sunday sent eight accused to 10 days of judicial custody for triggering violence and perpetrating an attack on police in the bordering village of Kubjhar during an anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protest on Saturday.
P Sudambika R, the SP of Unakoti, said the police had registered a specific case after the incident and launched an investigation. A search operation has been going on against a few others who were allegedly involved in the incident.
According to report, at least 18 policemen, including a sub-divisional police officer and several inspectors, were injured in the attack, while around 60 protesters were wounded and a few of them were hospitalised.
A protester identified as Jahangir (51) is undergoing treatment in the district hospital and is said to be critical.
Muslims resorted to protesting on Saturday in the minority-dominated bordering sub-divisions of Kailashahar in Unakoti district and Sonamura in Sepahijala district. Both the protests became violent. A faction of demonstrators attempted to break through barricades, prompting a scuffle.
In a separate but related development, another anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protest rally took place in Sonamura under the banner of Nagarik Adhikar Mancha. Thousands of demonstrators marched from the town's old motor stand to Rabindra Chaumuhani, where a mass meeting was held to denounce the Waqf Act.
Local sources said a section of protesters vandalised a fire service vehicle that was going to attend a distress call reporting a fire in a rubber plantation. The vehicle responding to an emergency in Aralia village near Sonamura was attacked on Saturday. The driver, Pankaj Debnath, was assaulted, and the rest of the crew was forced to remain inside the vehicle. The mob prevented the fire engine from reaching the fire site and compelled the team to return to the station.
The protesters accused the Centre of infringing on religious freedoms through the Waqf (Amendment) Act. According to them, the legislation undermines the historical and constitutional protections granted to minorities post-Independence.