Resumption of repatriation of Bru refugees put off in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jan 18 (PTI) Resumption of repatriation of Brurefugees from six relief camps in neighbouring North Tripuradistrict, scheduled to begin from today, was put off duetoproblems faced by the officials of the Mizoram-Tripuraborder Mamit district administration, V.

L. Rema, Sub-Divisional Officer (Sadar) today said.

Rema told PTI over phone from Mamit that thoughidentification of the refugees, whether they were bona fideresidents of Mizoram, have been completed, the officials wereunable to begin the repatriation from today.

�At least 221 Bru families have returned during thepast few days on their own and we have to conductidentification in the villages where they resettled and wealso have to arrange for their free rations and disbursementof their rehabilitation and resettlement,� he said.

He added that unless the refugees, who had returnedon their own will, were properly taken care of, it would beextremely difficult to commence the repatriation.

Around 101 Bru families have been repatriated in thearrangements made by the state government during the first andsecond phase of the repatriation which began from Novemberthree last.

The repatriation process was stalled during the endof last year after anti-repatriation elements among therefugees obstructed those willing to return and also theofficials sent to identify the refugees.