Protest over Bru refugee rehabilitation turns violent in Tripura, 1 killed, several injured

An anti-Bru agitation has taken a violent turn in Kanchanpur in North Tripura district, with at least 1 killed and several injured in clashes, forcing police to fire. A fire

An anti-Bru agitation has taken a violent turn in Kanchanpur in North Tripura district, with at least 1 killed and several injured in clashes, forcing police to fire.

A fire service personnel, as well as a civilian identified as Biswajit Deb Banna and Srikanta Das respectively, were killed in the clashes.

The incident occurred after hundreds of Joint Movement Committee supporters started marching from Kanchanpur to Dharmanagar by defying prohibitory orders. Security personnel first resorted to tear gas shelling and subsequently opened fire to bring the situation under control.

It may be mentioned that the violence erupted during the indefinite strike against the settlement of Bru refugees that entered the sixth day today.

An estimated 35,000 Bru refugees had arrived in Tripura in October 1997 following alleged atrocities in Mizoram. Gradually there were clashes between the refugees and non-tribal locals in the villages.

Last year the BJP government decided to rehabilitate refugees in Tripura. The government had decided to settle the refugees in all 8 districts in the state. Later, there was confusion and rumours that all the Brus would be rehabilitated in the Kanchanpur area.

This led to the anti-Bru protests. Earlier, today, the district magistrate and the SP of North Tripura met the protestors in Panisagar and tried to pacify the situation. However, the protesters sought for a written clarification to resettle the refugees in 8 districts.

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