AGARTALA, Nov 6 - Identification of Reang (Bru) refugees sheltered in six relief camps has been making progress as 482 families were proved as genuine citizens of Mizoram so far, according to official sources.
As many as 482 families were identified based on the electoral rolls of Mizoram of 1.1.1995 as yardstick set in a tripartite meeting held in New Delhi in September.
As per the schedule, a strong contingent of Mizoram administration arrived at Panisagar in North district to kick start identification of genuine citizens of Mizoram who deserted their home way back in 1997 following ethnic clashes.
�So far, the Mizoram team has identified 482 families of Bru families living in two camps in Panisagar subdivision. It means they are eligible to return to their homeland after 19 long years. There is no problem in the identification process�, said SDM, Panisagar Subhasish Bhattacharjee yesterday.
�A detailed schedule of identification of Bru refugees has already been prepared for all the six camps in Panisagar and Kanchanpur subdivisions. The process is expected to get completed by November 25�, he said.
Once identification of Bru refugees is completed, the much awaited repatriation of refugees to Mizoram will start. The Centre wants the process of Bru refugee return to kick start from December itself but Mizoram Government has sought time till January 2017.
Now, the Centre will decide when repatriation of Bru refugees begins after consultation with Mizoram Government. However, the State Government wants the process of Bru refugees to start as per the decision taken in the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) meeting held in Delhi.
