What will happen to the 400 landless non-tribals of Tripura living in tents in forest land?

These families, currently residing in temporary tent accommodations, recount a harrowing tale of displacement, which left them landless citizens of Tripura.

As many as 400 non-tribal families who were forced to leave their homes and are now living in temporary tents in reserve forest land in North Tripura’s Pekucharra, within Panisagar subdivision, has emerged as a pressing concern for the Forest department and the state government.

The families originally from areas like Anandbazar, Dasda, and Kanchanpur, claim to have been displaced first due to the influx of Mizoram Brus and then because of communal clashes.

Despite possessing legal documents, including voter cards and Aadhar, and participating in recent elections, they find themselves marginalized and displaced in their own state.

For over 15 years, these families have eked out a living on land belonging to others or government properties in Kanchanpur subdivision’s Dasda and surrounding areas.

Their recent migration to Pekucharra was prompted by the discovery of vacant land, but their settlement has been met with resistance from forest authorities due to its protected status.

In response to the escalating situation, high-ranking Forest officials, including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), along with senior forest and police officials, conducted a site visit to assess the circumstances. Local MLA Binoy Bhushan Das and Superintendent of Police Bhanupada Chakraborty too had tried to understand and address the concerns of the affected families.

The displaced families are now requesting the government to either allow them to reside in the area or arrange alternative land where they can settle with their families.

As tensions mount and uncertainty looms, their plight underscores the urgent need for government intervention to address the issue that might snowball into a humanitarian crisis in North Tripura.

COMMENTS