Agartala, January 7 (TIWN): Over 500 members of All Party Refugee (West district and Sepahijala district) Development Committee were arrested reportedly during a demonstration from in front of the official residence of Chief Minister at IGM Chowmohani here today.

According to a leader of the committee, despite several requests, Chief Minister did not pay any attention to them for a meeting. As a result, the angry refugees earlier announced if the Chief Minister keeps denying them to meet, they will move for mass demonstration.

Therefore, keeping 3-point charter of demands in viewpoint, the refugee members from different parts started gathering from early morning at IGM Chowmohani to stage a demonstration, he said. But a massive security arrangement including a vast contingent of police personnel was deployed here at IGM Chowmohani to manage the refuge bodies before starting the demonstration.

The leaders alleged that while many of the members were arrested during protest, at the same time more persons were arrested before they joined the demonstration. Without giving time for protest seeking 3-point charter of demands, police had started booking them from IGM Chowmohani, they added.

Speaking to media, secretary of the committee- Sajal Poddar alleged that the state government offered job and financial assistance to the militants who had killed over hundred people instead of giving normal assistance to the homeless and victimized families till date.

He further stated that over 3,500 families of Jampuijala, Takarjala, Gabardi and Golaghati areas escaped from their lands and homes as they were afraid to the militants during 1998-2000 respectively. And for the last 16 years they have been residing in temporary places including relative’s houses at Agartala and its adjacent places. More than 115 youths were killed by the militants in between 1999-2000, he added. But the state government did not take any initiative for the welfare of the homeless families till date, he said.

The demands of the committee are; to declare the name of the refugee families officially, to provide Rs 5, 00, 000 to each family as financial assistance and immediate rehabilitation to the refugees.

Earlier a delegation of All Party Refugee Development Committee visited the Governor and highlighted the issues on October 21, last year. The leaders said that if their demands remain unfulfilled, they would stage massive protest in future. 

West and Sepahijala district refugee development committee protest at IGM chowmuhani. TIWN Pic January 7