Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb has claimed that no violence over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, had occurred in the state.

A statement from the chief minister’s office on Saturday night said: “At the time when rumours are being spread over violence against Citizenship Amendment Act in various parts of the state, chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb is paying surprise visits to different locations to check the ground reality and build confidence among the people.

The chief minister visited several places on Friday and Saturday but there were no issues over the Citizenship Amendment Act — harmony and peaceful atmosphere was visible everywhere he visited so far.”

It said Tripura cannot be transformed into a model state if the common people are not happy.

“And, to realise people’s pulse, surprise visits are significant,” it added.

Referring to the recent protests in the state, Deb said, “The bond between tribal and non-tribal people is strong in Tripura with the blessings of Mata Tripura Sundari. We all have a common goal of developing Tripura and transforming it into a model state.”

Clashes were reported in Dhalai and North districts following protests against the act since December 9.

Forum claim: The Joint Movement Against Citizenship Amendment Bill, a forum of tribal parties and social organisations, on Sunday claimed that BJP supporters allegedly joined its agitation to malign the protesters.

Forum leader Jagadish Debbarma said the violence which had taken during its three-day strike from December 9 was carried out by suspected BJP supporters.

“Mantrilal Kaipeng, who was going to Twichindrai and died during the protest at Sadhupara in West district, was murdered. We visited his family. We demand an inquiry into the incident, punishment for those responsible and a government job for his family. We also demand strict punishment for those trying to malign protesters,” he said.

Twichindrai is in Khowai district, 43km from here.

Police on Friday vehemently denied the report of deaths during the strike.

Debbarma accused the police and the BJP-led government of covering up a murder and claimed it had failed to manage the law-and-order situation during the bandh.

On the recent meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah, Debbarma said they would wait for his cue on resolving the act.

Former MP and president of Tripura Rajyer Upajati Gana Mukti Parishad, Jitendra Choudhury, said on Sunday that he would file a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the law.