Centre’s decision to repatriate over 4,400 families to Mizoram from Tripura has been welcomed by Bru organizations and a group of displaced Bru people.

Mizoram Bru Displaced People Coordination Committee (MBDPCC), and Bru Displaced Welfare Organization (BDWO), in a joint statement said, “There will be no objection from our side.”

“We affirm our support to the ninth phase of the repatriation process, which will begin from October 1st to resolve the long-standing crisis,” the statement said.

Both the organizations also expressed gratitude to the Centre for looking after the displaced Bru families in six relief camps in North Tripura district for over 22 years.

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They also thanked the Tripura government for dealing with relief works without any disruption so that the Bru people could manage to eke out a living since 1997.

MBDPCC and BDWO leaders held a meeting with Mizoram home department officials in Aizawl on the long-standing Bru issue.

In the meeting, Mizoram home secretary Lalbiakzama told the Bru leaders that those Bru families who migrated to Tripura after a communal flare-up in 2009, are not eligible to be repatriated back to Mizoram.

The home secretary also said that about one thousand people, who have been left out during the re-identification process in July, the families of the ex-Bru militant outfit who are stranded in the Bru IDP camps and split families from the parental house numbering about a thousand, are also not eligible for repatriation.

ALSO READ: Mizoram: MZP warns ‘outsiders’ not to interfere in Bru repatriation matter

Meanwhile, District Level Core Committee meeting on Bru repatriation was held in Lunglei under the leadership of Lunglei DC K Lalrinzuali on Friday.

The meeting widely discussed medical facilities, transportation, food and drinking water and security arrangements for the Bru refugees when they are repatriated back to Lunglei district, officials sources said.

It was informed in the meeting that at least 364 Bru families from Hamsapara, Naisingpara and Hazacherra camps will be repatriated to Lunglei and they will be resettled at Putlungasih, Chawilung S, Dinthar and Buknuam villages.

Aniruddha Laskar is the Chief of Bureau, South Assam &and Mizoram. He can be reached at - [email protected]