Agartala, May 15 : The migration of over 400 members, constituting non-tribal families, to reserve forest land in North Tripura’s Pekucharra, within Panisagar subdivision, has emerged as a pressing concern for the Forest department.
These families, currently residing in temporary tent accommodations, recount a harrowing tale of displacement, which left them landless citizens of Tripura.
Originating from areas like Anandbazar, Dasda, and Kanchanpur, they claim to have been displaced first due to the influx of Mizoram Bru displaced people, followed by communal clashes.
Despite possessing legal documents, including voter cards and AADHAR, and participating in recent elections, they find themselves marginalized and displaced within their own state.
For over 15 years, these families have eked out a living on land belonging to others or government properties in Kanchanpur subdivision’s Dasda and surrounding areas.
Their recent migration to Pekucharra was prompted by the discovery of vacant land, yet their settlement has been met with resistance from forest authorities due to its protected status.
In response to the escalating situation, high-ranking Forest officials, including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), along with senior forest and police officials, conducted a site visit to assess the circumstances. Prior engagements by local MLA Binoy Bhushan Das and Superintendent of Police Bhanupada Chakraborty aimed to understand the concerns of the affected families.
The displaced families are now calling on the government to either allow them to reside in the area or arrange alternative land where they can settle with their families.
As tensions mount and uncertainty looms, their plight underscores the urgent need for government intervention to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in North Tripura.
