Arrest of former CPI-M MLA demanded in Tripura Assembly

AGARTALA, JANUARY 8 (PTI): Tripura Assembly today witnessed uproarious scenes over the Opposition's demand for arrest of a former MLA of ruling CPI-M in an alleged case of molestation.   Raising the issue after the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Sudip Roy Burman asked the Speaker why former MLA Manoranjan Acharjee was not arrested despite registration of an FIR against him.   The FIR, lodged last month, had accused Acharjee of raping an eight-year-old girl inside the party office in Gomati district's Amarpur.   Speaker Ramendra Nath said he had disallowed the motion proposed by Burman.   The opposition members shouted and at one point of time trooped into the well as they tried to show some documents to the Speaker. Asking reasons for not arresting the former legislator, opposition members demanded that chief minister Manik Sarkar, who also holds the Home department portfolio, make a statement.

  However, after 10 minutes, the Speaker adjourned the House for an hour. CPI (M) state committee member Manoranjan Acharjee was expelled from the party on charges of moral turpitude on December 10 last.   "In view of an allegation of moral degradation of the MLA of Birganj constituency, Manoranjan Acharjee, party's state committee conducted an inquiry into the allegation and asked him to resign from the post of MLA. He also submitted the resignation from the post of MLA to the state Assembly," a party statement had said on December 10.   Acharjee had resigned from the Assembly on the same day last month.