Bru blockade on despite prohibitory orders; Dy CM to meet

Despite the imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC, Bru refugees living in relief camps in Tripura continued the road blockade for the seventh day demanding resumption of free ration to them.

Leaders of three Bru organisations in the Tripura relief camps, however, said they have withdrawn the blockade on Tuesday afternoon but the people are adamant to continue with the agitation and would lift it after immediate issuance of ration and cash-dole.

A team headed by Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Debverma would meet the displaced people on Thursday to find out an amicable solution as road communication from Ananda Bazar to Kanchapur via Dasda in North Tripura district has collapsed due to the blockade, an official said.

"Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC was imposed at Anandabazar on November 4 night and that is still in force. Personnel of the CRPF, Tripura State Rifles and the state police were deployed there. But we are yet to use force (to lift the blockade)," North Tripura Superintendent of Police Bhanupada Chakraborty said.

No untoward incident was reported till now, he said.

An organisation of Bru refugees on October 29 threatened to launch the indefinite roadblock at Anandabazar, known for a prominent market in that area where two relief camps are located. The blockade commenced from October 31.

The Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) had claimed on Monday that six people including babies have died in relief camps since October 29 "because of starvation" after the Centre stopped the supply of ration and cash dole to the 35,000 odd refugees for October.

Tripura government, however, said four Bru inmates of the relief camps have died so far and medical teams have been sent there.

Senior Tripura government officials including Additional Chief Secretary Kumar Alok met the Bru leaders on Monday and urged them to withdraw the blockade.

In a statement on Wednesday, three Bru organisations said they have withdrawn the road blockade at around 2:30 AM on November 5 "honouring the request of Additional Chief Secretary Kumar Alok."