MHA team visits Bru refugee camp in North Tripura to discuss early repatriation

Aizwal (Mizoram) [India], Dec. 17 (ANI): Expressing concern over the early repatriation of the Brus Refugees, which was more likely to start by November, is still on hold in the northern Tripura District. MHA officials have been frequently visiting the camps to take stock of the situation, especially pertaining to demands made by the Brus for early repatriation to their home state of Mizoram. Recently, a high level team led by the Special Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs (Internal Security), M. K. Singla, visited the camps in North Tripura district to discuss their early repatriation. "We have been putting our efforts and the Centre is trying hard in every possible way to help them. I feel great to meet the Bru refugees, who have been staying in the camps for 19 years, and we have taken note of the issues they are facing. We will take every possible measure to fulfill their demands and the centre is in full support of us," M. K. Singla, Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Singla also visited two evacuee camps at Ashapara and Naisingpara. He, along with other officials of North Tripura and security officials, also held a meeting with the leaders of Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF). He further interacted with the inmates of the camps, discussed their issues and explained to them about the facilities they will get after repratriation. Meanwhile, the inmates were seen holding placards demanding birth certificates to the new-born babies, caste certificate and Adhar card, written agreements, allotment of land to each family, updating inmates' list as well as deployment of central security forces in villages of Mizoram where they shall be repatriated. "There have been lots of demands put by the inmates but it depends on how these are handled, whether they can be worked out or not. Auction takes place every year and whoever gets it have the right to cultivate. So it is nothing new and it has been an old tradition in Mizoram on how agriculture land is used. Apart from that, there are several other demands like establishing schools and we are soon going to sort it out," Singla said. Earlier in November, the process of identification of displaced Brus was started. It is to be noted that about 35,000 Bru/Reang from neighbouring Mizoram took shelter in six evacuee camps in Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura district in a phased manner since 1997 following ethnic clashes with Mizos over land dispute. Such an effort on part of the Centre is expected to solve their issues and fulfill their legitimate demands. (ANI)