Members of Joint Movement Committee (JMC) comprising of Nagarik Suraksha Manch, Tripura Mizo Convention and several other local Mizo NGOs held a video conference with the Chief Secretary of Tripura on Tuesday. During the video conference, JMC members submitted a memorandum relating to ‘site proposals for Mizoram Bru Settlement and justifications. In a joint Statement, Convener of JMC, Susanta Bikas Barua and Chairman Dr Zairemthiama Pachuau said this.
Notably, Bru re-settlement ran into rough weather due to stiff opposition of JMC groups and other community members due to alleged involvement of Bru people in several kinds of vandalism, looting etc.
In the memorandum submitted to the Chief Secretary, JMC members said, “We agree and propose that maximum of 500 families be settled within Kanchanpur subdivision and Kukinala of Panisagar sub-division”.
JMC identified a total of six places in Kanchanpur and Panisagar sub-divisions for Bru settlement, these are Bandarima- Pushporampara, Sakhan Hills, Chaigarhpur, Subalbari, Kalarambari-Bandarima and Kukinala (under Pasnisagar).
JMC members also urged the Chief Secretary, “We propose and request that no settlement is being done in any other locations within Kanchanpur and Panisagar subdivisions except in places proposed. We also propose and suggest that at least four persons from JMC be included in the monitoring team during the settlement process of Bru people for the sake of transparency, confidence and successful implementation”.
Justifying reasons behind stipulating number of families to be settled and selecting specific areas for Bru settlement, JMC members alleged, after the arrival of Bru refugees from Mizoram, Brus unleashed violence and as a result, local Mizo families were displaced from six villages in 1997 and Bengali families were evicted from 10 villages in 2000. Brus illegally snatched and occupied properties of local Mizo and Bengali people.
Besides, JMC members also alleged, Bru people are involved in anti-social activities, use of drugs, narcotics etc. On top of that, JMC members argued, ecology of entire Kanchanpur sub-division will be ruined of Bru people are allowed to settle in the region in large numbers.
In view of above facts, JMC is urging to settle the Bru people far away from the traditional lands and habitat of Bengalis and Mizos – otherwise, severe demographic imbalance, land crisis, social disturbance and damage of environment will result in, JMC members argued.
