Resumption of Repatriation of Bru Refugees Put Off in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jan 19 : Resumption of repatriation of Bru refugees from six relief camps in neighboring North Tripura district, scheduled to begin from today, was put off due to problems faced by the officials of the Mizoram-Tripura border Mamit district administration, V.L. Rema, Sub-Divisional Officer (Sadar) today said.

Rema told PTI over phone from Mamit that though identification of the refugees, whether they were bona-fide residents of Mizoram, have been completed, the officials were unable to begin the repatriation from today.

At least 221 Bru families have returned during the past few days on their own and we have to conduct identification in the villages where they resettled and we also have to arrange for their free rations and disbursement of their rehabilitation and resettlement, he said.

He added that unless the refugees, who had returned on their own will, were properly taken care of, it would be extremely difficult to commence the repatriation.

Around 101 Bru families have been repatriated in the arrangements made by the state government during the first and second phase of the repatriation which began from November three last.

The repatriation process was stalled during the end of last year after anti-repatriation elements among the refugees obstructed those willing to return and also the officials sent to identify the refugees.