Monday, February 17, 2014

Resumption of repatriation of Brus proposed

Resumption of repatriation of Bru refugees lodged in relief camps in Tripura was today proposed by the Mizoram core committee.

"Fixing of the dates and number of families to be repatriated would depend on the preparedness of the authorities of the Mamit district in Mizoram on the borders with Tripura and Bangladesh as well as the availability of fund," joint secretary in the Department of Home Lalbiakzama told PTI today.

A meeting of the district-level of the core committee would be held at Mamit town for the purpose, he said.

The repatriation was stalled during the Mizoram Assembly election in November-December as the Election Commission felt that rehabilitation package to be given to the repatriated families would violate the model code of conduct.

Meanwhile, civil societies including student organisations urged the government to complete the repatriation process by February and the names of those who refuse to return to Mizoram be deleted from the electoral roll.

The civil societies had also submitted a memorandum to the Centre and Election Commission demanding that Bru voters should not be allowed to exercise franchise from outside the state.