MHA to rehabilitate Bru refugees in Mizoram

Community had fled state in September 1997 to escape ethnic violence

The ministry of home affairs has embarked upon an ambitious plan to end the two- decade- old impasse on Bru refugees by rehabilitating them back to Mizoram.

Informing that joint secretary, Northeast, Satyendra Garg has been assigned the task of preparing a roadmap in consultation with the government of Mizoram and the civil society to rehabilitate these refugees, security sources told this newspaper that the home ministry will also facilitate necessary fund for their rehabilitation. Mr Garg visited Tripura on Friday.

Informing that more than 31,000 Brus are housed in refugee camps in Kanchanpur of north Tripura since they fled Mizoram in 1997, security sources said that repeated attempts to rehabilitate these refugees have failed but the home ministry has asked the authorities to resolve the contentious

More than 31,000 Brus are housed in refugee camps in Kanchanpur of north Tripura since they fled Mizoram in 1997

issues with the civil society before starting the process again.

Pointing out that Bru refugees, also known as Reangs, have been asking for settlement in 16 cluster villages, security sources said that the Mizoram government has proposed their settlement in scattered places.

The Brus had fled Mizoram in September 1997 to escape ethnic violence. In February 2015, Union home minister Rajnath Singh also visited these refugees in their makeshift camps.

Asserting that biggest concern for the home ministry is the sub- human condition in which they have been living for the past two decades, security sources said that there was violence last month in Kanchanpur areas after a refugee was beaten up by the local people who accused him of catching fish from a pond without seeking permission from the owner. The youth reportedly committed suicide later. It also resulted in clashes between refugees and local residents.

The Mizoram government, however, accused that the refugees have been reluctant to go back to their villages unless their demands for food and security are met.