First resettlement, then border fencing:Chakma tribe

Aizawl, Sep 27 (UNI) The Chakma tribes living in the western and southern parts of Mizoram have protested against the fencing works by the Centre at Indo-Bangladesh border demanding proper rehabilitation schemes.

A Indo-Bangladesh Border Fencing Affected Families Resettlement Demand Committee (IBBFARDCOM) delegation led by former chief minister Nirupam Chakma met his present counterpart Zoramthanga here demanding a halt in the border fencing works until land acquisition is finalised and the affected families are rehabilitated.

According to IBBFARDCOM, about 5790 families comprising of 35,438 persons from 49 villages were being affected by the fencing.

These villages located on the banks of Thega, Karnaphuli, Harina and Sajeik rivers form natural boundaries between India and Bangladesh.

However, the fence is being constructed one hundred yards inside India leaving these villages outside the Indian border.

The organisation said since these rivers are the lifeline of the Chakmas they could not afford to leave these places with rich paddy cultivation fields and horticulture gardens.

The organisation had also accused the construction companies for violating the guidelines of the Centre.

The delegation informed Mr Zoramthanga that the contractors appointed for the border fencing had not bothered to acquire lands in their respective portion and commenced the work without any land accquisition being done.

UNI SNR PP AKP1102