Bru stir on, Tripura to impose Section 144

FROM TUESDAY NIGHT, SECTION 144 OF CRPC WILL BE IMPOSED IN THE AREA WHERE THE DISPLACED PEOPLE BARRICADED THE ROAD

AIZAWL: Roadblock by Bru refugees demanding resumption of free ration to them continued for the sixth day, while the Tripura government decided to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 CRPC in the area where the displaced people barricaded the road from Tuesday night.

Road communication from Ananda Bazar to Kanchapur via Dasda in North Tripura district has collapsed due to the blockade, an official said.

“Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CRPC would be in force from tonight to ensure that the road is cleared from tomorrow enabling essential commodities and commuters to pass,” Kanchanpur sub-divisional magistrate Abhedananda Baidya told PTI.

An organisation of Bru refugees on October 29 threatened to launch the indefinite roadblock at Anandabazar, known for a prominent market in that area where two relief camps are located. The blockade demanding that the Centre resume supply of cash-dole and free ration to them commenced from October 31.

The Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) had claimed on Monday that six people including babies have died in relief camps since October 29 “because of starvation” after the Centre stopped the supply of ration and cash dole to the 35,000 odd refugees for October.

Tripura government officials, however, said four Bru inmates of the relief camps have died so far and medical teams have been sent there. Mizoram officials on duty at Kanchanpur said on Monday the agitating Brus were not blocking the road targeting trucks carrying essential goods but trying to stop Mizoram officers who are there to repatriate the Bru families.

The decision to stop the supply of rations amid the repatriation of Brus to their homeland Mizoram was “unconstitutional and blatant violation of human rights”, MBDPF general secretary Bruno Msha and president A Sawibunga had said in a letter to the government.