Uncertainty over return of Displaced Bengalis in Kanchanpur

Even as the ultimatum given to the displaced Bengali community people in Kanchanpur ending tomorrow, the larger fraction of the left over 86 families were not ready to return to their dwellings in fear of similar consequences. Only recently, not less than 7 of the total 93 families returned to their houses following a compensation package announced by the government but rest of the others refuted the deal and now showing no interest to move back.

Speaking to this reporter, one of the leaders of the displaced people forum, Rathindra Ray said, “Most of our people are not confident enough to retreat. The left over 300 people belonging to 86 families have the same concern over their future in an area which is largely dominated by the Bru refugees”.

On being asked on the government’s role, he said, “We have explicitly put forth five demands so that we can lead our life peacefully in the land where we are born and brought up. Our major demands are—rationing services for one year, a permanent camp of central armed forces, arrest of the perpetrators who left us homeless, restoration of Dasda to Ananda Bazar road etc. But, the government is not ready to even fulfill one of them completely”.

“Deputy Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen cannot assure us of giving any of them. We have been informed that we would get compensation from the government after a thorough assessment of the destroyed property. Rather than that none of our demands have entertained so far. Being questioned deputy speaker Biswbandhu Sen said us that the government would consider the demand raised by them but nothing could be assured except setting up a permanent security camp of TSR in Anandabazar” Ray told this reporter.

On the Bru-settlement issue, he said, settling Brus permanently here in Tripura will leave a ripple impact on the state. The way they have terrified people who use to take Dasda –Anandabazar route, non-tribal locals have been forced to avoid this route after dusk, he added.

On the other hand, Nagarik Suraksha Mancha, a Bengali body fighting for the cause of displace Bengalis had called a public rally to press for their demands. The prime demand of the organization is to settle the Brus out of Kanchanpur Sub-division.

"We are astonished by the fact that the state government stupidly agreed to let the refugees stay here even though they had never demanded this; these refugees have caused lot of damages to the Bengalis as well as the Mizos in Jampui, Sakhantang, Shermoon and Upper Dashda over the past twenty three years by displacing people from the entire Parshurampur village " said Ranjit Nath, president of the Mancha adding that their protests would continue.