Agartala, Oct 5 (TIWN): The second phase of repatriating Reang tribal refugees back to neighboring Mizoram is scheduled to take place in October, North Tripura District Magistrate Dr. Prashanta Kumar Goyal told TIWN over telephone.

He said,” Mammit district administration of Mizoram is preparing a list, once finalized the second phase repatriation most likely to take place in October last week”

    Talking about the earlier repatriation which took place on September 30, the DM informed that,” In all, 561 refugees comprising 84 families returned to their home state Mizoram Monday afternoon. The Tripura government officials provided logistical support in the repatriation process”

       Dr. Goyal stated that as per the meeting between the officials of Mizoram and Tripura governments Sep 17 at Kanchanpur, 121 families were supposed to go to their homes, but only 84 families returned back.

     It may be recall repatriation of the tribal refugees living in six Tripura camps for the past 16 years, resumed after two years, following continued pressure from the Tripura government on the Mizoram and central governments.

     According to the refugees' leaders, a majority of them are unwilling to go back to their homes and villages in Mizoram unless the Mizoram government meets their demands.