Tripura govt announces compensation for Bru victims

Mar 21 (UNI) Agartala: The Tripura government has announced Rs one lakh compensation for each for the families of the victims who were charred to death in an accidental fire in Bru (Reang) refugee camps in Kanchanpur of North Tripura on March 19.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar visited the camps yesterday and reviewed the situation there. He also directed the civil administration to manage food and clothes for the victims.
As many as 16 people, including five minors, were charred to death and eight others seriously injured, sources today said adding as many as 2500 huts were gutted rendering more than 15,000 people homeless.
More than 35,000 Bru refugees had fled from Western Mizoram on October 15, 1997, following fierce communal riots between the Brus and Lushais (Mizo) in the adjoining North Tripura.
They were given shelter at six camps in Kanchanpur subdivision since then. Several tripartite talks with active involvement of the Union government failed to ensure repatriation of the Brus to their homeland as Aizwal was reportedly reluctant to take them back.
The CPI(M) in Tripura meanwhile,demanded immediate intervention of the Centre to ensure repatriation of Bru (Reang) refugees.
In a statement, the party spokesperson said, ”The Brus have been leading the life of refugees in the camp because of the irrational attitude of Mizoram government.”