The Election Commission (EC) is yet to decide whether Mizoram’s Reang tribals, who have been living in relief camps in Tripura for over the past 18 years, should be included in Mizoram’s electoral list or not, an official said here on Monday.
Around 31,300 Reang tribals, who call themselves ‘Bru’, have been living in seven makeshift camps in northern Tripura since October 1997, when they fled Mizoram after ethnic troubles following the
killing of a Mizo officer.
“Following the EC’s instructions, a special summary revision of <g data-gr-id="19">electoral</g> list of Mizoram is being undertaken by the state election department. The summary revision of electoral rolls would not cover those tribals living in relief camps in Tripura,” Mizoram’s Joint Chief Electoral Officer FJ Liantluanga said. After the poll panel’s instructions to carry out special summary revision of the electoral list of Mizoram, <g data-gr-id="14">Reang</g> leaders took up the matter with the poll panel early in August, urging the inclusion of tribals sheltered in Tripura camps in the revised list.
Refugee leader Bruno <g data-gr-id="15">Msha</g> said the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum, an organisation of the refugees, in letters to the EC and Mizoram election department urged that a special summary revision be conducted in seven relief camps as was done earlier.