6,000 Bengalis Displaced by Brus in Tripura, Claims 'Nagarik Suraksha Mancha'

Agartala, January 10, 2020:

'Nagarik Suraksha Mancha' (Citizens Protection Forum), an apolitical outfit that came into being followed by a series of violent incidents in Kanchanpur in North Tripura district, claiming that 6,000 Bengalis have been displaces following the Bru refugees' arrival in Tripura.

The body has announced a sit in demonstration seeking immediate repatriation of the Bru-refugees residing in Kanchanpur, and threatened an indefinite stir in case its demands are not met.

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Addressing the press at the Agartala Press Club, Ranjit Nath, the president of the organization, alleged that due to violence carried out by Brus, several Bengalis had to flee from Naisingpara, Anandabazar, and a few adjoining areas. "Due to the violent attacks of the Bru refugees many people have had to abandon their ancestral properties in Kanchanapur..", he said.

“In the recent strike called by Joint movement committee of the refugees, at least 92 families have been displaced. Houses were ransacked, properties were set on fire and cattle have been eaten. All those families have taken shelter at Anandabazar police camp. This recent displacement of about 450 people has added to the figure of 6,000 such displaced Bengali people over the years, since refugees settled in the camps” he added.

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Responding to Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb’s letter seeking permanent settlement of the refugees in Kanchanpur, General Secretary of the organization, Anup Chandra Nath feared it would severely impact the demographic balance of the region.

“If the refuges are settled here, definitely all of the 35,000 refugees will be disseminated among the adjoining constituencies resulting in a new problem— many of the general constituencies will turn into reserved constituencies. The only solution of this problem is to send them back to Mizoram, according to the four-corner agreement signed in March 2018” he added.

"We have placed a charter of demands to the administration after the violence took place, with an ultimatum of 25 days. Most of the demands are being, but some are not being met. The 25 days' duration has ended today, and we are headed back to the streets to continue the agitation. We will not hesitate to boycott the ensuing ADC elections” Nath told mediapersons.

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