Tripura CPM MLA threatens Yoga instructors

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR,July 8: Yogic exercises have no political colour or clout. Perhaps CPM in particular tries to see it through the prism of politics. Though such instances are rare, the untoward incident of a CPM MLA identified as Tapan Chandra Das of Somura took yoga practicing people under the guidance and instructions of Rupamay Biswas and Akshayoi Debth, both residents of Hailakandi, as something saffron. Both the respected instructors were not only threatened to stop yoga and even those practicing it were not spared. This unprecedented incident happened last Monday.

 An FIR filed with the officer-in-charge of Melaghar police station under the Somura sub-division in the district of Sipahijala by Nripendra Chandra Roy, karjayavah, Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangha, Tripura, stated that when the members of the organization were doing their regular yogic exercises at East lchar, Killamura S B School field, the local MLA Tapan Chandra Das accompanied by some antisocial elements who have also been identified began to disturb and scold the participants doing yoga. When the instructors tried to obstruct them from doing so, the MLA threatened to kill all those present for yoga and for that he would not be answerable to anyone.

 The MLA even went to the extent of threatening them with dire consequences, using most aggressive and abusive language. As he and the hoodlums turned mecing, some of the participants left the place. Both Rupamay Biswas and Akshayoi Debth are whole time workers of RSS. They came to Melaghar for teaching yoga to people after repeated invitations. They have been staying with the local residents as the yogic classes will continue for a definite period of time.

 The FIR further stated that Tapan Chandra Das, MLA, and his henchman Linkan Debth forced Rupamay Biswas and Akshayoi Debth to sit on their bike and took  them away to some unknown place. On being informed, police rescued them from a deserted and isolated place and handed them over to the people of Sangha Parivar. In their petition to the higher authorities of Melaghar, Mihir Chakraborty, Sukumar Roy and Ramprasad Das urged upon them to take necessary and appropriate action against the MLA and his goons, besides providing protection to the activists for allowing them to guide and instruct those interested in yogic exercises.