Cloud over repatriation of Bru refugees in Tripura

AGARTALA

: The scheduled meeting of special secretary (internal security) of the Union ministry of home affairs Rina Mitra with officials of

Tripura

and Mizoram governments and leaders of the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) on Wednesday was postponed after Brus came up with fresh demands.



The MBDPF leaders said they would withdraw from the agreement singed on July 3 in New Delhi in the presence of Union home minister Rajnath Singh and chief ministers of both the states regarding repatriation of Bru refugees from six camps in North Tripura.

The meeting of MHA in Agartala with the state governments and Bru settlers to finalise the action plan for the repatriation, scheduled from August 16 next, the official said. The postponement of the meeting at the eleventh hour was indication of some hindrance in the process.

A section of Bru leaders demanded Area Development Council for the community in Mizoram if they are repatriated. The leaders said the demand had come from refugees in shelter camps.

The demand for the council, however, also included allotment of five hectares of land to each refugee family after their return, deployment of central para-military force for the protection of Bru tribals in Mizoram and formation of cluster villages for Bru tribes in Mizoram.

The MBDPF leaders justified their withdrawal from the agreement arguing that they have more genuine demands which were not incorporated in the agreement despite their repeated appeals and they are now compelled to withdraw from the agreement.

Meanwhile, Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb alleged besides Bru refugees, a section of state government officers were involved in corruption in the distribution of ration, amenities and support to the refugees in Kanchanpur for 21 years. They were creating problems in repatriation of refugees.

"The corruption and illegal activities at the administrative level have been exposed. The government will take appropriate action against those involved," Deb stated.

The chief minister, however, stated that nothing can stop the process of repatriation of Bru families to their homeland in Mizoram. "The process will be completed within the deadline," he said.