Mizoram govt to go ahead with repatriation of Brus: Mamit DC

Aizawl: The Mizoram government will go ahead with the repatriation of over 4,400 Bru families in spite of the refugees reluctant to return to the state, an official said on Tuesday.

Mamit district deputy commissioner Dr Lalrozama said that the final phase of repatriation, which began from October 3, will be carried out as per the scheduled till November 30. He said that no refugees have returned to Mizoram after agitation in the Bru relief camps in Tripura.

According to the official, about 190 Bru families from six relief camps in Tripura have so far returned to Mizoram during the repatriation. Of these, 134 families belonged to Mamit district, 10 to Kolasib district and over 50 families were residents of Lunglei district, he said.

He added that all the repatriated families have reached their respective districts and are now camping at rehabilitation centres.

About 35,000 Bru people lodged at six relief camps in Tripura launched a road blockade between October 31 and November 7 to protest against stoppage of ration and cash dole and ongoing repatriation.  Supply of ration was resumed by the Tripura government on November 8.

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However, cash dole is yet to be resumed in the relief camps, according to Bru leaders. When this correspondent contacted, a Bru leader refused to comment on coming back to Mizoram.

Altogether, 4,410 Bru families have been identified as bona fide residents of Mizoram during identification conducted by Mizoram officials in July.

Thousands of Brus fled Mizoram and migrated to Tripura following ethnic tension in 1997. Several attempts to repatriate them since 2009 went futile due to several reasons.

Last week, the Mizoram cabinet said it would no more  carry out repatriation after the deadline November 30.