AGARTALA, May 15 (TIWN): Trilateral meeting is slated to be held on May 15, repatriation of Reang refugees housed in six different camps across Tripura at Damcherra Block in Tripura’s North District. Besides the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum and the North district administration, the meeting will be attended by the representatives from Mizoram, sources confirmed.

Earlier on February 14, Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh had arrived in the State to solve the Reang Refugee problem. But due to the dissent of Mizoram Government, no solution had yet been sorted out. During the tenure of P.Chidambaram as Union Home Minister, the Minister himself also personally talked with the refugees. But it had failed to create any effect. More than 32,000Reang/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 had been arrived in 1997 to escape from ethnic violence in Mamith district of Mizoram. The evacuees alleged that they were subjected to atrocities and cruelty for raising demand for a regional council to preserve their rights and identities.

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 to give a cash dole of Rs 85,000 to each of the 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 had been 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 are residing has become a common problem now a days. Besides that the law and order situation are also facing hard troubles with the growing up of militant organization like BNA, BDEM, and NDLFM. Other than that, it has also disturbed the environmental balance.

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. Govt. is not showing positive attitude to bring the citizens into their own 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 step has been taken till now from their side. The Mizo Government was also instructed to return back their people within June 30th, 2015