Sarkar appeals to Reang refugees to end hunger strike

Agartala, Mar 5 (UNI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today appealed to the agitating Reang refugees to withdraw their indefinite hunger strike that entered the fourth day today.

Mr Sarkar, who led a four-member delegation of three political parties, assured the refugees that all possible steps would be taken to fulfil their demands.

The Reang refugees, who took shelter in different camps set up by the Tripura Government at Kanchanpur sub-division in North district, since 1997 following ethnic violence in Mizoram in 1997, were on fast, demanding safe passage to their homes.

Mr Sarkar said he will talk to the Union Government in this regard and request for sending senior officials to hold talks with the refugees.

The refugee leaders, however, did not commit anything regarding Mr Sarkar's appeal to end the fast.

Union Home secretary Naveen Chandra Verma is expected here tomorrow in this connection.

Besides, Mr Sarkar, other members of the delegation included tribal welfare and forest minister Jitendra Chowdhury, opposition leader and Congress President Samir Ranjan Barman and INPT leader Shyamacharan Tripura.

UNI