AGARTALA, September 8 (TIWN): The Tripura Left front government has come urging the neighbouring Mizoram government to take back the reang refugees who called themselves as ‘Brus’. The move has come up just after the proposed repatriation of the refugees from the Kanchanpur camp under North Tripura District was cancelled as no refugees turned up during the verification process.

According to the official source, the government of Tripura had urged the Mizoram government in a written letter to take necessary initiatives in order to get the reang refugees back to their hometown.

The official said, “Our state government is always ready taking initiatives to send them back to their home town but the government of Mizoram has come up playing negligence role over taking them back.”

Following ethnic tensions in Mizoram, more than 30, 000 Reang tribal refugees — locally called Bru  had taken shelter in six camps in north Tripura’s Kanchanpur sub-division in October 1997.

The central government has sanctioned Rs.7.87 crore as financial assistance for the repatriated refugees and an adequate amount of foodgrains has been stored to provide free rations to the repatriated tribal refugees for one year.

Official of the north Tripura district administration said that once the government in Mizoram, takes the initiative to take them back the authorities here would arrange vehicles and provide security to the home-bound tribals.

The reang refugees residing at Kanchanpur had earlier accused the Mizoram government of failing to ensure their security and provide livelihood.

The brus insist on a written agreement with the Mizoram government, assuring them security and economic settlement in their villages.