Despite three people being killed in past eight days — on the basis of “suspicion” of being child abductors, in Tripura — chief minister Biplab Deb shockingly avoided the issue of brutal lynchings when he was asked about the incidents. Instead Deb advised the reporter to stay happy and asked him to look at his delighted face.
He said a sense of happiness is prevailing in the state and every person is happy.
Later on Thursday evening, the Tripura government claimed Deb’s comment was quoted out of context and that he had actually said it when asked about the newly-renamed airport in Agartala.
Over the past few days, a number of incidents of lynching have taken place owing to rumours of child abduction across India including Tripura. An anti-rumour campaigner was beaten to death during a campaign in Tripura’s Kalacherra on June 28. A garment hawker from Uttar Pradesh in West Tripura district and a woman in Sepahijala district were also killed on the basis of similar suspicion.
