AGARTALA, April 27 � The Reang refugee repatriation has once again run into rough weather with inmates of six relief camps declining to return to their homes on the ground of non-fulfillment of promises.
As per the agreement, as many as 747 Bru refugees of 141 families were scheduled to return to Mizoram on Thursday amidst tight security. To ensure the hassle free return, officials from Mizoram arrived Hamchapara refugee camp with 34 vehicles and security personnel.
Around 12 pm, a group of refugees raised slogans against Mizoram Government for not fulfilling promises given to �already repatriated� Bru families in Mizoram. They refused to return to Mizoram saying that 600 Bru families who had been repatriated to their homeland are still denied of proper rehabilitation.
�No refugee will go back home untill the Centre and Mizoram Government give written assurance of proper rehabilitation and safety�, a refugee said at Hamchapara relief camp.
However, Prashanta Kumar, District Magistrate of North Tripura repeatedly appealed to refugees to go home for the interest of generation next. But his appeals were ignored with the refugees sticking to their stand and finally the process was suspended for an indefinite period.
On March 18, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had visited the Ashapara refugee camp and held meeting with refugees. In the meeting, Chidambaram had urged refugees and their leaders to return home for betterment of their children who are still denied of basic needs including education and healthcare.
After the visit, it was decided that fresh repatriation would begin on April 26 and the Centre will provide funds for their resettlement in Mizoram. But the rigid stand taken by the refugees has virtually put a question mark on the amicable solution to the vexed problem.
