Indefinite strike against resettlement of 6,000 Brus in Tripura 'temporarily' called off

AGARTALA:

Seven days after an indefinite strike was launched by a forum in protest against the resettlement of 6,000 Brus from Mizoram in Kanchanpur sub-division of Tripura, it was "temporarily" called off on Tuesday following an understanding reached between the government and the agitators.

Local MLA Bhagaban Das, who initiated the dialogue with the Joint Movement Committee (JMC) said, talks were held in two phases on Monday and were fruitful.

"We have demanded Rs 20 lakh compensation for our supporter killed in the police firing, a government job for his next of kin as per the qualification, treatment for those injured in the clash and a financial package for the repair of damaged vehicles and property in the incident," JMC convenor Sushanta Baruah said.

The JMC was given the assurance that their demands would be taken care of at a meeting with the elected public representatives and the government officials.

"The discussion concluded that both sides will have to sacrifice something and the indefinite strike was withdrawn", the legislator said.

The "temporary" calling off the strike comes three days after two persons died when protestors, who had blocked vital NH-8 locally called "Assam road" that connects Tripura with outside, clashed with the security personnel at Panisagar in the sub-division.

The Joint Movement Committee (JMC) comprising Bengalis and local Mizos had launched agitation since November 16.

The Bru issue had started in September 1997 following demands of a separate autonomous district council by carving out areas of western Mizoram adjoining Bangladesh and Tripura.

About 30,000 Bru tribals had then fled Mizoram due to the ethnic tension there and took shelter in refugee camps in Tripura.

The first attempt to repatriate the Brus was made in November 2009 by the Centre along with the governments of Tripura and Mizoram.

However, the effort had met with little success.

The centre signed a fresh agreement in January this year according to which the Brus who stayed back in Tripura relief camps will not be forced to return.

The centre sanctioned Rs 600 crore as a rehabilitation package for the displaced Brus as a final solution to the vexed problem after the agreement.

The government had earmarked 12 places in six districts to rehabilitate 35,000 Brus of Mizoram. (PTI)

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