Monday, May 27, 2013

Repatriation of Bru refugees postponed indefinitely

The proposed resumption of repatriation of Bru refugees lodged in the relief camps in North Tripura scheduled to commence from this week was indefinitely postponed, Mizoram Home department officials said here today.

Joint secretary in the Home department Lalbiakzama told PTI that the repatriation ball would again start rolling only after the Tripura government conveys its preparedness to the its Mizoram counterpart.

The Union Home Ministry, instructed that governments of the two neighbouring states should coordinate in implementing the repatriation process, Lalbiakzama said.

"When we approached the Tripura government during the second week of May, we were told that conduct of identification of the refugees jointly by the officials of the two governments could not be taken up due to absence conducive atmosphere in the border areas around the relief camps," he said, adding that they have nothing to do except to wait for responses from the Tripura officials.