The opposition parties, led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Indian National Congress (INC), and Trinamool Congress (TMC), launched separate agitation demanding the resignation of Tripura Labour Minister and senior BJP leader – Bhagaban Das from the cabinet for the alleged involvement of his son in a gangrape case on Oct 19 at Kumarghat under Unokoti district. 

Police on Sunday night arrested a third person in connection with the case. 

Two persons, including a lady who happened to be a leader of BJP’s women’s front, were arrested a day after the incident. 

According to the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Unakoti – Kanti Jangir, the investigation is underway. 

However, the BJP denied the allegation and claimed that a conspiracy was hatched against Das to malign him personally and defame the BJP-led administration. 

The party’s Spokesperson for the Unokoti district – Debasish Sen, said, “The FIR doesn’t have the name of Das’s son, and the accused was not present in Kumarghat for over a week.”

Sen highlighted that BJP never indulged in such crimes and urged police to investigate the case quickly to apprehend the key culprits behind the violence. He appealed to the police authorities to initiate action against parties deliberately dragging Das into the situation to achieve political advantage. 

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ashis Saha alleged that the gangrape occurred in the building of Das, where his 26-year-old son was the mastermind. 

The 16-year-old victim was brought from her home by a woman leader of the BJP. The victim’s boyfriend Rajib Das, mobilized to bring her into the building in the evening. She was gang-raped by the youths led by minister Bhagaban Das’s son in the building.