ProMASS News
Agartala, July 03, 2019: Bru – Reang inhabitants of Manu Chailengtha village under North Tripura today submitted a memorandum to local administration seeking cancellation of proposed establishment of BSF North Eastern firing range in the village. The proposed project will jeopardize normal life of tribal people – mostly poor Jhum (Slash and burn) cultivators, agitated villagers alleged.
Led by Young Bru Association (YBA) president Santosh Reang, a memorandum was placed before DCM of Kanchanpur sub-division office jointly by YBA, BSCO, BCM, BSM and four other bru-NGOs today. Submitting the memo, agitators alleged, normal life of around 800 families will be affected.
Protesting against the proposed establishment of the firing range, Bru organization leaders alleged, due to the construction of ‘Dumbur hydroelectric project’ (Dam) year back in 1974 around 35000-40000 poor Brus (Reangs) family were affected and faced forced internal migration and displacement without any compensation. Drawing parallels to Dambur incident, agitators argued that the establishment of firing range would trigger similar displacement. “Women, children, elders and sick people would be further marginalized in the first place once the proposed firing range is materialized”, Santosh Reang argued.
Leaders of agitating Bru organizations and NGOs pointed out several other disturbances that would pose challenges to life of people living in the area and environment. Leaders also argued that the proposed firing range project would affect people of manu Chailenghta and two other adjacent ADC villages – Chandipur ADC Village and Dashamani Para ADC Village under Dasda RD Block and Laijuri RD Block.
