Ex-Mizo rebels reiterate anguish ahead of Peace Day

Aizawl, Jun 29 (UNI) The returnees of Mizo National Front (MNF) today reiterated their anguish ahead of the Peace Accord Day.

Amid contradicting remarks that the Centre and Mizoram government have rehabilitated the MNF returnees, but the latter had failed to utilise the rehabilitation funds, the Peace accord MNF returnees association (Pamra) in a statement highlighted their true picture.

The Centre had given a relief fund of Rs 20,000 each to the MNF returnees in October 1986, when the MNF came overground. In September 1988, Rs 10,000 each was given to the returnees for construction of houses followed by another Rs 10,000 each in 1995, the statement said.

''We were given Rs 20,000 in two installments, after a lapse of seven years. There was no way to construct houses in such situation,'' the Pamra lamented.

The state had allotted housing plots for the returnees at Maumual area under Chaltlang VC jurisdiction without roads, water and electricity, Pamra release stated.

A few returnees got jobs during the first MNF ministry in 1987-88 and few others during the President's Rule in 1988. Some were recruited in the 2nd and 3rd IR battalions during the two MNF successive ministries, the statement said.

UNI