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ShareAgartala: Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar has expressed concern over the "fresh influx" of Bru refugees into the state from neighbouring Mizoram following the gunning down of a youth there.
"It is a matter of deep concern that there is a fresh influx of Reang (Bru) refugees into the state when the refugees sheltered in six evacuee camps in North Tripura district were supposed to go back," Sarkar told reporters, adding that he had discussed the issue with home minister P Chidambaram over phone.
"The fresh exodus from Mizoram would complicate the repatriation process of the refugees who are already staying in Tripura camps for the last 12 years," he said.
Sarkar, who will be in New Delhi today, is expected to meet Chidambaram and discuss the issue.
"Our concern is that already thousands of displaced Reangs are shelterd in camps in Tripura and if more displaced people enter into the state that would only complicate the situation. So we want the situation to be peaceful and the people sheltered in the camps return (to their homes)." Officials here claim that at least 2,000 people belonging to Bru community have taken shelter in the foot hills of Jampui following violence triggered by the killing of a mizo youth by suspected insurgents of Bru National Army (BNA) on November 13.
Sarkar said the chief secretary and director general of police, Tripura and the district collector of North Tripura district have already spoken to their respective counterparts in Mizoram about the influx of the refugees.
"Following our repeated requests for repatriation of the refugees sheltered in the camps, the central government arranged meetings between Tripura and Mizoram earlier where we have handed over the full list of the refugees sheltered in evacuee camps," Sarkar said, referring to the days preceding the flare-up in Mamit and Kolasib districts of Mizoram.
"But they always said that all the listed people did not enter into Tripura from Mizoram. We told them, fine, you start repatriation of those people whom you recognise.
"When the incident of gunning down of the Mizo youth took place just before the repatriation was scheduled to start, a suspicion was growing among many quarters that if there was any design to stop the process of repatriation. However, jumping to any conclusion would be unjust," Sarkar said.
