Stir against Bru resettlement intensifies, indefinite strike in Kanchanpur continues
Protests against mass Bru resettlement in Kanchanpur gain further momentum as people of neighbouring sub-divisions in North Tripura are supporting the indefinite general strike called by Joint Movement Committee (JMC).
The strike started from November 16 protesting against mass resettlement of Bru refugees in Kanchanpur sub-division.
On Thursday, people from Panisagar joined the protests and extended support to the movement. A meeting has also been convened inviting the Dharmanagar merchant association where the JMC leaders would seek support from the traders for the indefinite strike called by the Joint Movement Committee.
Talking about the ongoing indefinite strike, Dr Zairemthiama Pachuau, Chairman of Joint Movement Committee and General Secretary of Mizo convention of Tripura said, “Our strike is peaceful, and it will always be. We got the support of all the native people of the subdivision, cutting across community and party lines. It's a matter of social justice that the Mizoram Brus be settled in Tripura, but not at the cost of the interests of the Mizos and the Bengalis, not at the cost of our peace, environment and ecology. Our movement will go on until all the rights and interests of every community are served through rational settlement of Mizoram Brus”.
Meanwhile, reacting to the protests in Kanchanpur, Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma said the government would surely talk to the protesting organizations to resolve the long pending resettlement issue.
“We don’t believe in conflicts, our philosophy is cooperation. We shall talk to the protesting parties”, said Dev Varma.
Briefing the media persons on the sidelines of a programme, he said, “the Bru refugee problem is created and sustained due to the failures of previous governments. The previous governments completely failed to address the Bru issue for 23 years. The BJP government has taken the initiative to settle the Bru refugees and nothing will come out if someone creates problems against the decision “.
According to him, BJP’s stand is similar across the country. “We believe that people of this country should not lead a life of refugee in its own country. In case of Kashmiri Pandits also our stand is smilar”, he added.
On the security arrangements, SDPO Kanchanpur Bikramjit Sukla Das said that the situation was quite peaceful and deployment of force in the sensitive areas had been intensified.
| Also Read : Tension, shutdown in Tripura's Kanchanpur over refugees' resettlement |
“The overall situation is peaceful over here. There is no tension, but the strike is going on uninterrupted. About 500 security personnel from TSR and CRPF have been deployed across the region. Police patrolling is continuing round the clock. Police pickets are there to thwart any untoward incident”, Das said.
When asked about present status of families who took shelter in a school after an attack allegedly by Bru refugees, Das said, “We have arranged more security in these areas. SDM madam has personally tried to convince them to return but unfortunately, they are not ready”
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