Mizoram to repatriate 33,000 Reang refugees, team visits Tripura camps

A CORRESPONDENT

AGARTALA: Taking a definite move, the Mizoram government is proceeding to repatriate over 33,000 Reang refugees residing in six camps in the North Tripura district for the last 22 years. It is expected that a big team of officials may visit the camps at Casco, Kahkchand, Hamchapara, Ashapara, Naishingpara and Gachimapara in Kanchanpur and Panisagar subdivisions.

Officials of the Mizoram Government have already held two rounds of meeting in the Head Quarters of Kolashib and Mamith districts to draw a final roadmap to bring back all the refugees. Apart from the District Magistrates of both the districts, the Additional Secretary of Home was also present on the occasions.

The meetings have decided to complete the repatriation process this year and a detailed roadmap was finalized. It also decided to send a large team of officials to visit the camps and discuss with their Tripura counterparts for facilitating the repatriation of these refugees.

Despite several initiatives from the Centre and the Mizoram government, the repatriation initiative was frustrated on earlier occasions due to the stubborn attitude of the refugee leaders.

This approach of the refugee leaders caused a negative impact in Mizoram as the powerful Young Mizo Association and the NGO Co-ordination Committee demanded that the names of these refugees should be removed from the voters’ list of that State as they are unwilling to return.

The Central government also took a strong stand on the issue and decided to stop free rations to the Reang refugees. However, it was extended till the September next.

Also read: Tripura news