Death of Bru woman in Mizoram stalls final phase of repatriation

AGARTALA: The alleged murder of a Bru woman in a village in Mizoram 's Mamit district last Saturday has stalled the ninth and final phase of repatriation of Bru refugees from their camps in Tripura to Mizoram.


The latest phase of repatriation began on October 3 and is set to continue till November 30. The Brus have been living as refugees in six camps in Kanchanpur and Panisagar subdivisions of North Tripura district for over two decades now, after having been forced to leave their homes by ethnic Mizos following communal clashes between the two communities.

On Wednesday, only 25 people from six families in two camps could be repatriated. Officials from Mizoram failed to enter the four other camps as protests continued against the death of 33-year-old Linda Reang, allegedly subjected to racial taunts and burnt alive by her Mizo husband, Vanlalbela, of Thinghlun village in Mamit district in Mizoram.

"Fourteen members of four families from the Khakchan camp and 11 of two families from the Kaskau camp have been repatriated to Mizoram. Officials from that state received them in the presence of Tripura government officers," the SDM of Panisagar (North Tripura), N Darlong, said.

She added that there was an agitation in Kaskau and Khakchan camps on Monday but none from Tuesday. However, protests continued in four other relief camps in the Kanchanpur subdivision. Kanchanpur SDM, Abhedananda Biadya, said no Brus had been repatriated from the camps in Kanchanpur since Monday.

Sources said women Bru refugees of the Ashapara camp in Kanchanpur subdivision on Wednesday showed black flags to officials from Mizoram, who had come with 20 buses to take them back. Besides seeking justice for Linda, they reiterated their old demand for a separate autonomous district council for Brus in Mizoram.

"Linda was set on fire by Vanlalbela. She had been tortured on several occasions for being from the minority (Bru) community in Mizoram. Not just her husband, other Mizo villagers also ill-treated her," alleged Lazimatrai Reang, a Bru inmate of the Ashapara camp.

"We want an independent inquiry into Linda's death and punishment for the accused, security for each and every Bru family living in Mizoram and a separate ADC for us in that state," she added.

With Wednesday's repatriation, only 59 families have returned to Mizoram since October 3. However, Mizoram officials could provide details of 55 families till Thursday evening.

"Of the 55 families, 42 were taken to south Mizoram's Lunglei district, 11 to Mamit district and two to Kolasib district ," a Mizoram government official said. He also said hundreds of women in the Naisingpara camp had on Wednesday organised rallies to protest against the killing of Linda and refused to allow repatriation to be undertaken.

A Tripura Police officer, on the condition of anonymity as the case does not fall under the force's jurisdiction, said Mizoram Police should investigate the allegation of murder and take steps to maintain peace in villages along the Tripura-Mizoram border that have a mixed population. However, a section of officials in the North Tripura administration claimed the death was being made an issue to prevent the repatriation.

"The Bru refugee organisations have been delaying repatriation despite signing a tripartite agreement with the Union home ministry. The Centre has given several deadlines for completion of repatriation. The latest is November 30," said an official.