Tripura: Indefinite 'Bandh' from Feb 26 in Kanchanpur against Bru Resettlement

Agartala, February 25, 2020:

Kanchanpur sub-division located under North Tripura district is once again set to plunge into uncertainty as a joint body of six organizations has called for a dawn-to-dusk (6 am to 6 pm) indefinite strike from February 26 next.

The joint movement body, comprising the Youth wing of local Nagarik Surakhsha Manch and five Mizo NGOs, called the strike in support of three-point demands including immediate resumption of relief to 93 displaced families in Anandabazar area under the sub-division.

Talking about the three-point demand, Diptanu Nath, general secretary of Nagarik Suraksha Manch said, “First of all, we are demanding immediate resumption of relief to 93 families who are languishing in makeshift camps at Anandabazar PS”.

ALSO READ: Will History Remember Akhil Gogoi as the Nelson Mandela of NE?

“Secondly, we are demanding that Bru refugees should not be given settlement in Kanchanpur sub-division or any area close to Jampui Hills for sustainable peace in the area. Thirdly and importantly, since Brus took shelter in relief camps in Tripura in 1997, Bengalis and Mizos were forced to leave areas between Anandabazar-Dasda due to atrocities and crimes committed by the Bru refugees. We are demanding rehabilitation packages like Bru rehabilitation scheme for all the evicted Bengali and Mizo families”, he added.

Echoing the same concerns, Dr Zairemthiama Pachuau, general secretary of Mizo Convention said, "Our proposal and suggestion to the government of Tripura are that the displaced Mizoram Brus be settled in areas other than Kanchanpur Sub-Division and far from the Mizo traditional boundaries of Jampui Hill. This will be good for all the three communities: the Mizos, the Bengalis and the Brus themselves. This is also critical for the success of the Bru settlement programme and for long-lasting peace."

ALSO READ: Rajya Sabha Elections for 55 Seats, Including 5 in NE, to be held on March 26

Dissent and frustration started building up from February 18 last after the administration stopped providing Rs 2000 relief to 93 Bengali families who fled away from their houses during violent Anti-CAB movement in December 10 last.

“Despite repeated pleas, Administration declined to resume relief to those 93 families. Moreover, the administration is not paying any heed to our other demands pertaining to Bru rehabilitation and rehabilitating Bengali and Mizo families since after 1997”, Diptanu Nath, general secretary of Nagarik Suraksha Manch charged.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.