Tripura: Organisations stage indefinite hunger strike against Govt’s move on Bru resettlement

Disappointed with the government’s move, the Joint Movement Committee in Tripura has staged an indefinite hunger strike against the resettlement of the Brus in Kanchanpur sub-division without holding any dialogue with the locals and the organisations.

The committee, an umbrella body of the Nagarik Suraksha Manch and local Mizo bodies including Mizo Convention, also demanded inclusion of the representatives of the organisations for the site selection process for the resettlement of the Brus.

“As we are original inhabitants of the land, the government must accept us as most vital stakeholders and as a solution; and not see us as problems. It must create room for dialogue for successful joint problem solving of the long-standing Mizoram Bru problems,” said Dr Zairemthiama Pachuau, chairman of the Joint Movement Committee and General Secretary of Mizo Convention.

Also read: Brus resettlement: A saga of conflict, interests and rights

Notably, Bru people fled from their native villages in Mizoram in 1997 after an ethnic clash and took refuge in six relief camps in North Tripura. Of late, several alleged anti-social activities, looting and violence by Bru people, earned a bad name for them. During anti-CAA movement in December 2019, the Bru inhabitants of relief camps were allegedly involved in violence and ransacking shops in Anandabazar and adjoining areas. Many Bengali families fled from their houses and took shelter in local Police Station due to violence allegedly unleashed by Bru people.

In this backdrop, an agreement was signed in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a multi-party meeting which allowed re-settlement of Bru people in Tripura as citizens of Tripura. However, both the Nagarik Manch and local Mizo people of Jampui Hill remained defiant with the demand that there would be no re-settlement of Bru in Kanchanpur sub-division and near Jampui hill.

The Bru resettlement issue that has once again hogged the limelight with serious resistance from the local communities seemed to have once again marred with severe complexities.

Also read: Tripura: Chakma bodies resent Mizo convention over Brus

Notably, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on May 29^th, 2020, wrote a letter to the Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb regarding the resettlement of the displaced Brus at the traditional habitat of the Mizos – Jampui Hill.

Taking a dig at the Mizoram CM, Four Chakma outfit leaders on June 5^th, 2020, alleged, “The Mizoram government and the Mizo NGOs are responsible for the present miserable condition of the Bru people. The Mizoram government had not allowed them to settle in the state.”

The Chakma leaders had also criticized that the role of the Mizo Convention of Tripura and pointed out a case in the recent past involving Chakma people of Kanpui village in Tripura and jawans IR battalion.

Readers like you make Inside Northeast’s work possible.

To support our brand of fearless and investigative journalism, support us HERE.

Download:

The Inside Northeast app HERE for News, Views, and Reviews from Northeast India.

Do keep following us for news on-the-go. We deliver the Northeast.