Bru repatriation runs into roadblock

The fourth round of repatriation of Bru refugees from Tripura concluded today with just seven families of the targetted 669 families returning to their homes in the western belt of Mizoram. The Mizoram government planned to take back 669 families, comprising 2844 adults and 811 children, who were identified as bonafide citizens of Mizoram during the fourth round that began from April 26. They were supposed to be repatriated in five batches with the last batch on May 15. Of the first batch of 141 families from Hamsapara camp, only one family returned. On the second day on May 4, six families of the targetted 149 families from Khatchang relief camp returned. No family from Khakchangpara, Hajacherra and Kaskau camps came back. The Bru refugees raising fresh demand is behind the derailment of the repatriation process this time. Against the offered Rs 85,000, the Bru refugees demanded that they be given a rehabilitation package of Rs 1.5 lakh, equal amount given to the 83 displaced Mizo families who had been driven out of their homes in Sakhan Hills in Tripura by Bru militants in 1998. They were also against the use of the 1995 electoral roll of Mizoram for identification of bonafide citizens of Mizoram.
According to Mizoram officials, the 1995 electoral roll was used as intelligence report indicated that many Bru families from Assam and other parts of the region had infiltrated into the refugee camps to get the attractive rehabilitation package. Thousands of Bru families have been languishing in the relief camps in North Tripura since 1997 when they fled Mizoram following ethnic conflict with majority Mizos targetted by the killing of a Mizo forest official by Bru militants. They were joined by hundreds others who fled Mizoram in similar circumstance sparked off by the killing of a Mizo youth again by suspected Bru militants in November 2009. Excluding the seven families, Mizoram government had repatriated 617 families comprising 3173 men, women and children in the last three rounds starting from November 20, 2010. The fourth round scheduled to begin from June 7, 2011 was called off by Mizoram government, to put pressure on the demand for rehabilitation of the 83 displaced Mizo families. With the Union home ministry allowing Rs 1.5 lakh rehabilitation package for the displaced Mizo families early this year, the Mizoram agreed to resume the fourth round.