Jt Secy indicates early solution of Reang refugees

Agartala, Jan 31 (UNI) Joint Secretary Union Home Ministry Naveen Verma, who arrived in Tripura for a two-day visit, reportedly hinted for a early solution to the problem of repatriation of Regan refugees of Mizoram from Tripura.

A high-level delegation led by Mr Verma arrived here on Monday to discuss the problems regarding the allocation of funds for the surrendered NLFT militants and repatriation of Reang tribals to Mizoram.

The Union Ministry delegation visited Naisignpara refugee camps of Reang tribals under Kanchanpur sub-division of Tripura's north district close to neighbouring Mizoram yesterday and hold talks with the Mizoram Displaced People's Forum (MDPF) leaders about repatriation.

The Reang tribals deserted their homes and have been staying in six temporary camps set up by the Tripura government since last few years following ethnic violence there.

MDPF Secretary Elvis Chorki handed over 26 pont charter of demands to the Union Ministry representative, of which 16 were for the Mizoram and remaining ten for the Tripura government respectively.

The MDF leaders informed the delegation that in all 13 times peace meeting was held to find out a solution of the problem. A peace accord was signed on April 26, 2005 and in first phase 38 BLFM militants desposited arms and ammunition and surrendered. In October 23, 2006, in all 805 militants followed the same path with the hope that their problem would soon be solved.

Mr Verma reportedly promised the Reang leaders that he will submit their demands to the Centre for consideration and will hold talks with Mizoram government very shortly.

Besides Mr Verma, among those who included in the delegation were North East region Tribal Development Department's Director B B Jha, State Tribal Welfare Department Commissioner S.K.Das, Principal Secretary Revenue Department Praveen Srivastava, North District Magistrate Shantanu Das, and other officials of the district.

Later in the evening, Mr Verma left Kanchanpur by army helicopter.

UNI