Tripura: 2 More Deaths in Bru Camps, Opposition Blames Biplab Deb Government

Agartala, November 5, 2019:

Two more death have been reported from Bru refugee camps in Kanchanpur in the North Tripura District. Meanwhile, the Biplab Kumar Deb-led BJP Government in the State has come under fire from the Opposition parties.

The Mizo Bru Displace Peoples Forum (MBDPF) has claimed that two more children died on Monday at the Nishingpara Bru refugee camp, and the Hamsa Para refugee camp. Till date, six people have died in the Bru refugee camps in Tripura. Among these, four were kids, and two were elderly.

3-year-old Ajitari Reang and 4 month-old Pigli Reang, have died due to starvation on October 4.

According to reports, two people died on October 31, two people died on November 3, and two kids have died on November 4.

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Akoso Molsoi, a 2 year-old and Brishtirung Reang, 65 years of age, died on 3 November. On 31 October, Makota Reang, aged 65, and John Chongprengh, a 2-year-old kid, had died.

Among the six death, five were reported from Naisingpara refugee camp. Pigli Reang, who died on Monday, was from the Hamasa Para refugee camp.

MBDPF leader Bruno Mesa has said that many other people are also sick and they are suffering miserably.

The Mizoram Bru Displace People’s Forum has claimed that the lactating mothers are also not getting proper food and for this reason the kids are not getting breast milk.

Meanwhile, CM Biplab Deb has said that the Bru or Reang people, who are in refugee camps since long time they should go to Mizoram first. "There is no alternative but they first go to their homeland and the central government and the Mizoram government assured them to give the assistance", he said. The State Government has issued circular to extend section 144 in Kanchanpur.

MP Ronald Sapa has said that the MHA should send a team to check the condition of refugee camps in Tripura.

Congress spokesperson Tapas Dey criticised the Tripura Government's attitude and said that, they must go to Mizoram but they should have the food.

"The indigenous people are in starvation and our state government is silent here. What the Government is government is doing it is totally inhuman", he said.

The CPI(M) has also criticized the the State Government's apathy and sent ration in the refugee camps.

From 1st October this year, the Central Government had stopped the ration supply in refugee camps after the beginning of the 9th phase of repatriation.

The central government has decided that they will not continue the refugee camps at Kanchanpur anymore. More than 35,000 Bru refugees are staying in different refugee camps at Kanchanpur since the last two decades after they fled from Mizoram due to ethnic clash with the Mizos.

In the 9th phase, nearly 700 people repatriated to Mizoram from Tripura. The Bru refugees are agitating against the government decision not to provide ration in refugee camps and have blocked the Anandabazar-Dashda road.

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