AGARTALA
: At least seven people were injured and three vehicles were burnt as protests against the plan to resettle Brus in
Kanchanpur and Panisagar sub-divisions
of North
Tripura
spread across Kumarghat sub-division of Unokoti district on Sunday.
The fresh injuries, which included five policemen, were reported after agitating neighbours of fireman Biswajit Debbarma, who was killed in a mob attack at Agnipasa village of Panisagar, clashed with security personnel at Demdum on Fatikroy-Kamalpur road. The agitated people of Biswajit’s village resorted to violent protests and attacked the vehicle carrying his body.
A fire brigade vehicle was also demolished and a local motorcycle was also burnt. Later, residents organized a big rally during which there was a clash with security personnel, leading to injuries.
Deputy inspector general of police (Northern Range) L Darlong, however, said the situation in the districts was brought under control and sufficient forces have been deployed to maintain peace. “The discussion with JMC leaders is going on over lifting of strike and possible solution to the impasse. The meeting between social welfare minister Santana Chakma and the agitators has been scheduled today,” he said.
A meeting between
chief minister Biplab Deb
and representatives of the Joint Movement Committee (JMC) has been deferred. The JMC comprising Bengalis and Mizos, has been agitating for the last eight days against the resettlement of Brus. NGOs Longai Region comprising four Bru organisations demanded action against seven leaders of JMC, accusing them of killing Debbarma during their protest against Bru rehabilitation in Kanchanpur on November 21.
Footages of agitators thrashing Biswajit with sticks has gone viral and demands of the arrest of those seen attacking him are growing louder. Extending support to JMC agitation, Mizo People’s Convention, Manipur, too has criticised the Tripura government for the move to rehabilitate displaced 4,600 Bru families of Mizoram in Tripura and said, “The attitude of the Tripura government is biased.”
They accused the state government of the death of Srikanta Das in police firing and urged the government to settle the matter considering the sentiment of people of Kanchanpur. “While the state government is trying to rehabilitate displaced Brus, it turns a blind eye towards the settlement of 81Mizo families from six villages of bordering locations in 1997 and 650 Bengali families from 10 villages in 2000. Such attitude is unfortunate,” Mizo People’s Convention, Manipur, stated in a press release.
According to reports, bodies of both persons killed in Saturday’s violence were cremated early on Monday morning in their respective villages under high security. The body of Srikanta was taken to his village at Dasda in Kanchanpur around 10.30 pm, while Biswajit’s mortal remains reached his village from Agartala late evening. BJP’s ally in the government, IPFT, has demanded Rs 20 lakh for the families of Srikanta and Biswajit.
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