Reang Refugee Count Shoots up in Relief Camps

A Reang camp

Agartala, Mar 3 : Ethnic violence in Mizoram’s Mamit district in November-December last year has pushed the number of Reang tribal refugees, registered at six camps in Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura, from around 35,000 to 40,292.

This came to light in the state Assembly today in the course of a statement made by minister for relief and rehabilitation Joygobinda Debroy in reply to a query raised by CPM chief whip in the House, Samir Deb Sarkar.

While furnishing his reply to Deb Sarkar’s query, the minister said till the latest round of violence that had rocked Mizoram, the number of Reang refugees registered with the camps at Kashirampur, Longthariakami, Hezacherra, Kasko, Khakchang and Hamchhapara had remained stagnant at 37,466. But in November-December, 2,746 new refugees had arrived at the camps, raising the total to 40,212.

“The state government has spent Rs 21 crore in the financial year 2008-2009 and Rs 12.96 crore till December 2009 of the current financial year; the expenses on this head are, however, reimbursed by the Union home ministry on a regular basis,” Debroy said.

Later speaking to reporters, the minister expressed grave concern over the continued stay of Reang refugees in the six camps bordering Mizoram in North Tripura. “They arrived in October 1997 and instead of repatriation the number of refugees has actually increased, and practically no progress has been made in initiating the process of repatriation,” Debroy said.

He said chief minister Manik Sarkar had broached the subject in an informal meeting with his Mizoram counterpart Lalthan-hawala.

“The Mizoram chief minister was quite warm and said no obstacle would be created in the way of repatriation and the Reang refugees would be welcomed back home, but nothing has happened so far.”

He added that the government was in touch with the Union home ministry over the issue and would try to ensure early repatriation of the inmates. “There is already a possibility that several organisations in Mizoram will question the authenticity of the number of inmates in the camps but records should speak for itself,” Debroy said.