Displaced people of Gandacherra are the ‘Refugees in own land’

By  Firstdespatch Desk   Oct 31, 2024

Agartala, Oct 31 (FD) 400 Bengalis, who were displaced following an ethnic conflict at Gandacherra in Tripura’s Dhalai district are now ‘Refugees in own land’ and live in hellhole.

The members of the 165 Bengali families were displaced a few months ago and were forced to take shelter in Government building as their houses set ablaze and their belongings looted.

When their demands to create an atmosphere of returning homes were conceded by the Chief Minister himself during his visit to the conflict ridden place, the displaced people are being put pressure by the sub-divisional administration to vacate the government places and stopped supply of coked food and cutting ration materials.

The displaced people voiced their concern that unless various social organizations come to their aid and create democratic opinion against the ‘injustice’ meted upon them.

“We may have to die of starvation as the government’s support is meager. We want our destroyed houses are rebuilt with funds from the PMAY scheme and assurances of the Chief Minister is implemented”, said a camp inmate, who chose to remain anonymous.

The houses near the Gandacherra bazaar were attacked by the resettled Reang refugees on July 12 following the unplanned death of a tribal youth, Parameshwar Reang. 

Attacks on the houses of the Bengalis had taken place reportedly in presence of the police and they did not react to protect them.

How long would they stay there? FD JK