Relief for Reang refugees to be stopped from October 1, tension in camps

A CORRESPONDENT

AGARTALA: A tense situation is prevailing in all the six Reang refugee camps in northern Tripura since the government announcement that relief for the refugees will be discontinued from October 1 as a clear division is visible among the refugees who clearly divided into two pro-repatriation and anti-repatriation camps.

The sudden change has been noticed immediately after the administration of the Kanchanpur and Panisagar sub-division announced the decision over mike on Friday and the refugees in large number started expressing their willingness to return to their ancestral place.

When a large number of refugees was trying to register their names in the SDM offices for repatriation, a section of the refugee leaders were reportedly threatening them against with dire consequences and prevented them to approach to the SDM office.

A clear division among the refugee leaders also was visible as the Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples’ Forum (MBPDF), which is a signatory in the four-corner agreement that finalised the modalities for the repatriation and the breakaway faction the Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples’ Co-ordination Committee (MBPDCC) has taken a different role.

While the MBPDF leaders are maintaining silence over the issue, the other group are leading in threatening the refugees and preventing them from approaching to the SDM offices. While visiting the Naisingh Para camp on Saturday, many refugees clearly admitted to The Sentinel that they are willing to return to Mizoram but their leaders are preventing them.

It is learnt that the leaders of the co-ordination committee has threatened that the refugees will organise sit-in demonstration and may resort to road blocked movement if the government stop ration supply to the refugees.

The sub-divisional administration is taking a tough stand over the issue and the SDM of Kanchanpur, Avedananda Baidya clearly said “the decision is final and if the refugee leaders act funny the administration will not hesitate to take strong action.”

The police administration is also gearing up to face any eventuality and as per report additional forces has been sent to the troubled areas. “They are still in barrack and will be used only if it is extremely necessary,” said a senior police official.