September 19, 2018: After a great effort and series of meetings, around 21 families of reang refugees are going back today to Mizoram. Sources said, total of 131 Reang refugees out of total 32,876 Mizo tribals returned to their homes in Mizoram today. The Reang tribals will go to Dinthar under Lungle district in Mizoram. Repatriated reangs will enter into Mizoram through Damchhera Kanmun area. Kanchanpur SDM Abeda Nanda Baidya is accompanying the repatriated Reangs and he will hand over them to Officials of Mizoram, local sources said.
“This has brightened up the prospect of the remaining, who have been sheltering in Tripura camps for the past 21 years returning to Mizoram. The Reang tribals fled Mizoram in 1997 after an ethnic violence and took shelter in camps under Kanchanpur in North Tripura District.
After several meetings, the repatriation was decided in July last in New Delhi. Top officials of the Tripura and Mizoram governments, Union Home Ministry and the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) had signed the agreement paving way for repatriation. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and his Mizoram counterpart Lal Thanhawla were all present during the signing of the pact.
The agreement was signed by Rina Mitra, Special Secretary (Internal Security), MHA, Sanjeev Ranjan, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Tripura, Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, Principal Secretary, Govt. of Mizoram and A. Sawibunga, President, Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF).
In July meeting, a six-point benefit package was agreed upon for each refugee family. The repatriation benefit package included financial aid of Rs 4 lakh, a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000, Rs 1.5 lakh for building a house and free rations for two years. According to the decisions taken in July meeting, estimated 32,876 Reang tribals of 5,407 families were scheduled to be repatriated to Mizoram in their Home district. The multi-phase repatriation process was scheduled to starte fro Mid August and to be completed by September 30. A Committee under Special Secretary (Internal Security) will coordinate the implementation of this agreement.
However, Bru refugees reiterated previously raised demands and refused to return to Mizoram. Their demands included security in Mizoram by the central para-military forces etc. besides formation of the Area Development Council for the Reang tribals -Bru people. With persistent efforts and persuasion, Reangs agreed to be repatriated.
Reang people started off to their native village in Mizoram in presence of DM of North District Rabal H Kumar, SP North Bhanupada Chakraborty, SDPO of Kanchanpur Kiran Kumar K, SDM Abeda Nanda Baidya and other officials of Tripura. Sources also said, Mizoram officials shall remain present at Damchhera Kanmun area and receive the refugees.
