Agartala, September 5 (TIWN): Militancy affected displaced people from West Tripura and Sepahijala district today submitted a deputation to District Magistrate (Sepahijala) Prashant Kumar Goel demanding propr rehabilitation for the displaced people living in rented houses or occupying khas lands over the years.

Asked about the issue, District Magistrate Goel said later this evening that the demands would be forwarded to the higher ups for action.

“The Department of Relief and Rehabilitation is the designated authority to act on the issue. We shall forward demands tabled by the displacement victims to them. I am not the authority to act”, he said.

A leader of the displacement victims expressed distrust at the government and said that the authorities had miserably failed to meet their expectations and demands.

“We held indefinite hunger strike twice before for proper rehabilitation and compensation. The government agreed both times and promised us benefits. The movements were withdrawn. We feel we were cheated”, he said.

Thousands of people were displaced by the tribal armed insurgency and the 1980 genocide; families suffering multiple displacement, further accentuated by mindless development projects of the government were rendered homeless, forced to live in colonies on government land. The displaced peoples forum today demanded a specific policy to address the situation.