The Tripura unit of the Amra Bangali party raised serious allegations against the ruling BJP government, accusing it of perpetuating hatred and discrimination against Bengali communities.
Addressing a press conference in Agartala on Wednesday, Gaurang Rudra Pal, Secretary of the Amra Bangali State Committee, highlighted the plight of 217 Bengali families from 51 villages in the Kanchanpur sub-division, who have been forced to seek refuge in the forest area of Pekuchhara village in Panisagar under the North Tripura District.
According to Pal, these families, hailing from areas like Subhashnagar, Kashirampur, and Ashapara, have been living under dire conditions for the past five days.
“The administration’s response has been nothing short of inhumane,” Pal alleged and added, “These families, which include children and the elderly, are struggling without basic necessities such as food and drinking water. Instead of providing assistance, the administration, along with the police, is coercing them to leave Pekuchhara.”
Pal further alleged that the administration has gone to the extent of blocking access to drinking water in an effort to force the families out. Despite repeated threats from officials, the Bengali families have remained steadfast, demanding humane treatment and alternative arrangements before any eviction.
He pointed out ‘contrast’ in treatment between the Bengali refugees and the tribal families in a nearby forest area and said such different treatment has further fueled accusations of bias.
“There are about a hundred tribal families living in another part of the forest, yet the administration remains silent on their eviction,” Pal said.
“This clearly demonstrates the anti-Bengali and tribal appeasement policies of the current BJP government, surpassing even the previous leftist regime.”
During the press conference, the Amra Bengali State Committee laid out several demands:
1. Immediate Relief and Shelter: The Bengali refugee families in Pekuchhara must be provided with essential supplies, including food, drinking water, medicines, and materials for constructing temporary shelters.
2. Compensation and Resettlement: Families who have lost relatives and property due to extremist attacks since the massacre of June 1980 should receive full compensation and secure resettlement.
3. Judicial Inquiry: A thorough judicial inquiry into the June 1980 massacre should be conducted by sitting judges of the High Court, and those responsible should be held accountable.
4. Land Rights: Bengali families should be granted forest rights and land pattas similar to those provided to tribal communities.
Pal emphasized that these measures are not only a matter of justice but also in line with the national promise of independence. “Just as Punjabi refugees were resettled with dignity, Bengali refugees deserve the same treatment,” he said.
(Tripura, Tripura News)