Centre inks pact with Mizoram, Tripura for Bru refugee repatriation

New Delhi [India], July 07 (ANI): In a fresh turn of developments, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh finalised a new deal to repatriate the Bru community members from Tripura to their home state, Mizoram, in the next couple of months.

In this regard, an agreement was signed between the Centre, Mizoram government, Tripura government and the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) on the deportation issue of Bru tribals in the national capital on Saturday.

According to the new agreement, the Mizoram government is bound to give employment and provide homes to as many as 32,876 refugees in three districts of the state.

Each displaced Bru refugee family will get Rs 4 lakh as fixed deposit and Rs 50,000 per month for a period of two years. These refugees are also entitled to a compensation of Rs 1.50 lakh for constructing houses as a part of the repatriation package.

Additionally, they have been assured free ration for a period of two years.

Lauding the move, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb termed it as a historical step.

"The Bru Refugees of Mizoram who had been residing in Tripura for the last 22 years, who had lost all hope and had no resources of living, these people, unfortunately, had no lives. Food does not mean that you have a good life, however, the Honourable Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has now taken this historical step and I welcome this decision and I also congratulate the Mizoram Chief Minister, Lal Thanhawla", he said.

The central government has also appointed a special committee to oversee the proper implementation of the newly-signed agreement, under the leadership of Rina Mitra, Special Secretary (Internal Security).

Ethnic violence broke-out between Mizo and Bru tribes in 1997, scores of Bru families were forced to leave their home state and take shelter in the neighbouring Tripura.(ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI