Bru (Reang) refugees once again approached the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Ambassa) within a span of five days, raising new demands ahead of the upcoming Village Committee elections in Tripura.
On Thursday, residents of the Bru Settlement Camp at Haduklok Para under Ambassa subdivision of Dhalai district submitted a memorandum to the Ambassa Sub-Divisional Magistrate, demanding the formation of a separate Village Committee for their settlement area.
According to reports, families residing in the Bru Settlement Camp for several years have demanded that their locality be granted the status of a separate village and be brought under an independent Village Committee.
As SDM(Ambassa) Rinku Reang was absent on the day, the memorandum was received by DCM Anish Debnath.
The delegation stated that Village Committee elections are likely to be held in the state within the next few months. However, they warned that if the Bru Settlement Camp is not recognized as a separate village before the elections, the election process in the area should be postponed.
The Bru refugees further alleged that they have been living with various hardships for many years and that repeated appeals to the administration have failed to bring any permanent solution. As a result, they said they have now been compelled to launch an organized movement.
They also made it clear that if their demands are not fulfilled promptly, they will intensify their agitation in the coming days and may adopt stronger protest programmes if necessary.