Tripura Bru Refugees Refuse To Go Back To Mizoram

Agartala, Jul 7 : Only six displaced Brus belonging to two families living in Tripura, have turned out so far in identification process launched by the Mizoram government as part of repatriation initiative, said an official of North Tripura district.

He said a section of refugees that turned out in the identification process, had informed that they would not go back unless inquiry into the conditions of the previously repatriated families were conducted and ensure their security and proper rehabilitation. No turn out in identification process indicates Brus are reluctant to return in Mizoram, the official said, adding that it was carried out by the officials of both Tripura and Mizoram with prior intimation to the refugees.

When the identification process had begun on June 2, the leaders of Bru refugees had asked them not to turn up for identification unless their 10-point demands were met, he said.

According to reports, the process of identification had begun last month and was completed in three of the six camps on July 4.

The next phase of identification is scheduled to start from July 13 next at Ashapara of Kanchanpur.

The preparations came after the Supreme Court instructed both the Centre and the Mizoram government to repatriate all Brus within six months.

According to record, as many as 900 families of Bru have been repatriated from six camps of Tripura between 2005 and 2014. They were allowed to stay scattered in Mizo-dominated villages of Mamit, Kolasib and Lawngtlai district.

So far, government of Mizoram got Rs 44 crore from the Centre for rehabilitation of Bru refugees. It also received Rs six crore for ensuring safe repatriation.