Agartala, February 14 (TIWN): Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh had arrived in the State to solve the Reang Refugee problem. There is a scheduled meeting with the Chief Minister of Tripura and Mizoram also. But the question arising among sections of people that will the problem solved by any means? Is the Refugees agreed to return to the native place, Mizoram? Will Mizoram Government pave their consent to push back their people? During the tenure of P.Chidambaram as Union Home Minister, Minister himself also personally talked with the refugees. But it had failed to create any effect? More than 32,000 Reang/Bru refugees were huddled in six camps after they took shelter in Tripura since 1997 following ethnic clashes with the local Mizos over possession of land. Over 30,000 Reang or Bru refugees are languishing in six makeshift camps in Kanchanpur, 135km north of Agartala, after they arrived in 1997 to escape ethnic violence in Mamith district of Mizoram.

The evacuees alleged that they were subject to atrocities and cruelty for raising demand for a regional council to preserve their rights and identity.

The North Tripura district officials earlier convinced the refugee leaders to support much awaited repatriation as they blocked several such initiatives in past. The Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum has been arguing that the refugee issue is crux of a political situation in Mizoram and unless it is solved politically, permanent settlement of the problem cannot be achieved.

Mizoram government rejected their political demands and announced rehabilitation package for the returnees. Tripura state officials said Mizoram government gave a cash dole of Rs 85,000 to each of families and accommodated them in a designated camp at Mamith district pending their rehabilitation.54 families from Naisnghpara, largest of six camps, 28 from Ashapara and 2 from Hejachara camp returned. It was originally planned for 73 families, but 11 more families volunteered to return. Union central home ministry which is bearing entire expense to look after the refugees and Tripura government which has burden of a huge population for many years were constantly pressuring Mizoram government to take back the tribe people under a convenient arrangement.

Clash between Migrants and Non-tribal in Kanchanpur and other areas where the refugees were residing became a common problem nowadays. Besides that the law and order situation is also facing hard troubles like the growing up of militant organization like BNA, BDEM, and NDLFM is becoming active. Other than that it had also disturbed the environmental balance also.

Though the State government had taken the matter in to the notice of Mizoram Government, but in that case, the Mizo Government, is playing step motherly attitude. They are not showing positive attitude to bring their citizens into their State. During the meeting at Delhi under the leadership of the Union Joint Secretary, Shambhu Singh, Tripura Government told Mizoram Government to provide some basic things to the Reang Refugees. But, no steps had been taken till now from their end. The Mizo Government was also instructed to return back their people within June 30th, 2015