Bru re-settlement in Tripura: Interest of locals should not be hurt says CPIM

Agartala: As protest continues on the fourth day against the re-settlement of displaced Brus in Kanchanpur Sub-division of Tripura, opposition party the CPIM has said that the interest of the locals should not be hurt while resettling the migrants in the state.

Starting Monday, the Joint Movement Committee consisting of Bengali and Mizo organisations have called for an indefinite strike from Monday, alleging breach of promise by the Tripura government in the resettlement of Bru migrants in Kanchanpur subdivision.

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The Tripura government had identified 3,600 hectares of land in 11 locations in list one for resettling 4, 900 families comprising 33,000 people across the state.

The BJP-led central and state governments are solely responsible for the indefinite strike called by the locals in Kanchanpur centering the Bru migrants resettlement in the sub-division, said Haripada Das, CPIM state office secretary, in a press statement.

“The indefinite strike called by two organisations of Kanchanpur sub-division is being held for four consecutive days over the issue of resettling Bru migrants of Mizoram. Some violent incidents have occurred there on November 17. Normal life has been crippled in the area due to the continued strike. We feel, both the BJP-led central and state government are responsible for this strike situation and for not initiating any dialogue with the agitators so far”, the press statement reads.

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The statement also cited that the centre had denied the legitimate demand of repatriation and the discussion was held with the opposition parties prior to the decision taken for re-settling them here in Tripura.

“The migrants should be resettled in government lands, reserved forest areas or forest cover-free lands and their livelihood should be ensured without disturbing the interest of the local residents. The state government should immediately initiate dialogue with the agitators and solve the ongoing strike in the sub-division”, the press statement added.

Earlier, on Thursday speaking with reporters, deputy chief minister Jishnu Dev Varma said that his government would initiate discussion with the locals who are protesting against the re-settlement of the Bru migrants in Kanchanpur sub-division.

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“Our government has taken a nationalist stand over the re-settlement of displaced Brus in Tripura, who were living like refugees for many years. We know there are some objections and demands against the re-settlement of Brus. We would look into it. However, creating trouble would not solve the problem in any way”, Varma said.

Meanwhile, the Kanchanpur police has registered a case against a group of people for violating the Section 144 put in force since Tuesday last across the Kanchanpur sub-division to maintain law and order situation.

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