High-level meeting tomorrow to discuss repatriation of displaced Bru people

A high-level meeting chaired by a representative of the Union Home ministry will be held tomorrow at Panisagar in North Tripura to work out modalities for the repatriation of some 35,000 displaced people belonging to the Reang or Bru tribe living in camps in the district, officials said today.
The Reangs or Brus began entering Tripura in 1997 from neighbouring Mizoram following the outbreak of ethnic violence.
The meeting, presided over by the ministry's special secretary for internal security, Mahesh Kumar Singla, will be held in the Sector headquarters of the BSF at Panisagar.
The District Collectors (DCs) and SPs of three districts of Mizoram and the District Magistrate (DM) and SP of North Tripura district will be among those attending the meet.

North Tripura DM Saradindu Chowdhury said the DCs and SPs of Lunglay, Kolashib and Mamit districts of neighbouring Mizoram would be present at the meeting.
The Central government has reportedly assured each displaced family a package of Rs 1.3 lakh in cash, free rations for two years after repatriation and a house under the national housing scheme.

During their stay in Tripura, the displaced people were given a cash dole of Rs 5 per adult and Rs 2.50 per minor every day along with some rations and other benefits under a relief package from the Central government.
Singla, who arrived here today, visited a number of BSF camps along the Bangladesh border.

Animesh Debbarma, liaison officer of the MHA envoy, said Singla, a former Director General of the BSF, met officials from Assam Rifles and the BSF at Shalbagaan, the headquarters of the BSF here.