Bru migrants who have resettled in Tripura voted for&nbsp;the Lok Sabha elections in the northeastern state for the first time since their permanent resettlement, which occurred as a result of a four-party agreement involving the central government, and the state governments of Tripura and Mizoram, back in 2020.&nbsp;

The refugees fled from violence in Mizoram 27 years ago. They had previously taken part in the 2023 Assembly elections in Tripura. In the preceding three Lok Sabha elections (2009, 2014, and 2019), the Bru migrants voted as constituents of Mizoram.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-heatwave-warning-issued-in-many-states-going-to-polls-in-second-phase-715314">Also read |&nbsp;Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Heatwave warning issued in many states going to polls in second phase</a>

Laldingliana, the general secretary of the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Coordination Committee (MBDPCC), stated that the majority of Bru people&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-policeman-on-election-duty-kills-himself-with-service-rifle-715318">cast their votes</a> peacefully since the morning. They voted at their closest polling stations across various locations, including a newly established booth at Laungang in the South district, where Bru migrants were resettled as part of the agreement.

Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) general secretary Bruno Msha said, “We are casting our votes for the Lok Sabha polls in Tripura for the first time. We took part in three other Lok Sabha elections while we stayed in Tripura before but we never cast votes in any of those elections in Tripura”.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-rajasthan-groom-reaches-polling-station-with-baraat-to-cast-vote-715365">Also read |&nbsp;Rajasthan Groom reaches polling station with 'Baraat' to cast&nbsp;vote&nbsp;</a>

<h2>Bru migrants' voting and resettlement</h2>

In previous <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-ec-books-bjps-tejasvi-surya-for-soliciting-votes-in-name-of-religion-715349">Lok Sabha polls</a>, Bru migrants voted at transit camp facilitation centres&nbsp;in 2009 and 2014, and special polling centres&nbsp;in Mizoram's Mamit district during 2019.

Around 32,000 Bru, also known as Reang, fled Mizoram following ethnic clashes in 1997, seeking refuge in Tripura.

After two decades, a quadripartite agreement was signed on July 3, 2018, aiming to repatriate 5,407 Bru families, totalling 32,876 people, from temporary camps in Tripura to Mizoram.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;India General Elections 2024: Google doodle marks India poll's second phase

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-general-elections-2024-google-doodle-marks-india-polls-second-phase-715392/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Initially housed in six relief camps in North Tripura, a renewed agreement in 2020 proposed permanent resettlement in Tripura. The agreement also promised inclusion in Tripura's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-bengaluru-doctor-performs-cpr-on-woman-in-cardiac-arrest-at-polling-booth-saves-her-715275">electoral rolls</a>, marking significant steps toward resolving the long-standing displacement issue and facilitating their integration.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Bru migrants who have resettled in Tripura voted for the Lok Sabha elections in the northeastern state for the first time since their permanent resettlement, which occurred as a result of a four-party agreement involving the central government, and the state governments of Tripura and Mizoram, back in 2020.

Bru migrants who have resettled in Tripura voted for the Lok Sabha elections in the northeastern state for the first time since their permanent resettlement, which occurred as a result of a four-party agreement involving the central government, and the state governments of Tripura and Mizoram, back in 2020. The refugees fled from violence in Mizoram 27 years ago. They had previously taken part in the 2023 Assembly elections in Tripura. In the preceding three Lok Sabha elections (2009, 2014, and 2019), the Bru migrants voted as constituents of Mizoram. Also read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Heatwave warning issued in many states going to polls in second phase Laldingliana, the general secretary of the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Coordination Committee (MBDPCC), stated that the majority of Bru people cast their votes peacefully since the morning. They voted at their closest polling stations across various locations, including a newly established booth at Laungang in the South district, where Bru migrants were resettled as part of the agreement. Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) general secretary Bruno Msha said, “We are casting our votes for the Lok Sabha polls in Tripura for the first time. We took part in three other Lok Sabha elections while we stayed in Tripura before but we never cast votes in any of those elections in Tripura”. Also read | Rajasthan Groom reaches polling station with 'Baraat' to cast vote Bru migrants' voting and resettlement In previous Lok Sabha polls, Bru migrants voted at transit camp facilitation centres in 2009 and 2014, and special polling centres in Mizoram's Mamit district during 2019. Around 32,000 Bru, also known as Reang, fled Mizoram following ethnic clashes in 1997, seeking refuge in Tripura. After two decades, a quadripartite agreement was signed on July 3, 2018, aiming to repatriate 5,407 Bru families, totalling 32,876 people, from temporary camps in Tripura to Mizoram. Also watch | India General Elections 2024: Google doodle marks India poll's second phase Initially housed in six relief camps in North Tripura, a renewed agreement in 2020 proposed permanent resettlement in Tripura. The agreement also promised inclusion in Tripura's electoral rolls, marking significant steps toward resolving the long-standing displacement issue and facilitating their integration. (With inputs from agencies)

In a first, Bru migrants vote in Tripura's Lok Sabha polls after resettlement

Successful rehabilitation of Bru refugees in Tripura has brought smiles and cheer to tribal folk in Tripura.

The major decision came after the tripartite agreement was signed by the centre, Tripura, Mizoram state governments and Bru representatives.

Bru or Reang refugees are a primitive minority tribe and the second most populous tribe after Tripuris in the state of Tripura.

More than 30,000 Bru refugees, whose repatriation was uncertain for several years, will finally be able to settle in Tripura.

The Bru community fled from Mizoram following ethnic clashes in 1997 and has been languishing in seven camps in North Tripura for years.

They are now happy as after years of struggle, blood and sweat, they will permanently settle and will no longer be termed as refugees.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bru-refugee-agreement-how-does-the-deal-solve-over-two-decade-old-crisis-274727">Bru refugee agreement - How does the deal solve over two-decade-old crisis?</a>

A bru tribal, Bamsarai Reang said, "We came from Mizoram and have been living in Tripura for last 22 years. Now that we will be settled here, we are happy and it is a good decision. Earlier, we faced difficulties in Mizoram and so we escape here in Tripura."

Members of the Bru community said that they have been through a lot of struggle and deprived of basic amenities like shelter, clean water, food, employment, education, health facilities, electricity, and road connectivity for long.

"We are from Mizoram and we faced a lot of problem. We are happy now and we hope that our future generation would be better than before," Marina Reang, a Bru tribal said.

The Bru people and their leaders hoped that their days of struggle shall end very soon. General Secretary, Mizoram Bru Indigenous Democratic Movement, Philip Apito, "We are facing a lot of problems not only with education but also with our livelihood... we have no cooking materials, safe drinking water, educational facilities and all the documents. We have faced a lot of things which we are supposed to get as human beings. We are fighting for education."

"By the grace of God, we are having a proper settlement in Tripura under the initiative of the central and the state governments. We are extremely grateful for their sincere support and cooperation. Our future is better than before," he said.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-a-historic-step-union-minister-amit-shah-signs-bru-agreement-to-end-over-two-decade-old-crisis-274715">In a historic step, Union Minister Amit Shah signs Bru agreement to end over two-decade old crisis</a>

The Mizoram government has made at least nine attempts to repatriate the Brus since 2009 but they have been refusing to return to the state citing security reasons and insufficient rehabilitation packages offered by the Centre.

Hence, the new agreement has been signed recently, has brought a glimmer of hope among the distressed Bru Tribals.

The Brus would get all the rights that other residents of the state get and would now be able to enjoy the schemes and benefits of the Centre and the state governments.

It is worth noting that a large section of people are getting their documentation done while others are opening bank accounts as the Centre has already declared a 600 crore rupees rehabilitation package for them.&nbsp;

Successful rehabilitation of Bru refugees in Tripura has brought smiles and cheer to tribal folk in Tripura. The major decision came after the tripartite agreement was signed by the centre, Tripura, Mizoram state governments and Bru representatives.

Successful rehabilitation of Bru refugees in Tripura has brought smiles and cheer to tribal folk in Tripura. The major decision came after the tripartite agreement was signed by the centre, Tripura, Mizoram state governments and Bru representatives. Bru or Reang refugees are a primitive minority tribe and the second most populous tribe after Tripuris in the state of Tripura. More than 30,000 Bru refugees, whose repatriation was uncertain for several years, will finally be able to settle in Tripura. The Bru community fled from Mizoram following ethnic clashes in 1997 and has been languishing in seven camps in North Tripura for years. They are now happy as after years of struggle, blood and sweat, they will permanently settle and will no longer be termed as refugees. Also read: Bru refugee agreement - How does the deal solve over two-decade-old crisis? A bru tribal, Bamsarai Reang said, "We came from Mizoram and have been living in Tripura for last 22 years. Now that we will be settled here, we are happy and it is a good decision. Earlier, we faced difficulties in Mizoram and so we escape here in Tripura." Members of the Bru community said that they have been through a lot of struggle and deprived of basic amenities like shelter, clean water, food, employment, education, health facilities, electricity, and road connectivity for long. "We are from Mizoram and we faced a lot of problem. We are happy now and we hope that our future generation would be better than before," Marina Reang, a Bru tribal said. The Bru people and their leaders hoped that their days of struggle shall end very soon. General Secretary, Mizoram Bru Indigenous Democratic Movement, Philip Apito, "We are facing a lot of problems not only with education but also with our livelihood... we have no cooking materials, safe drinking water, educational facilities and all the documents. We have faced a lot of things which we are supposed to get as human beings. We are fighting for education." "By the grace of God, we are having a proper settlement in Tripura under the initiative of the central and the state governments. We are extremely grateful for their sincere support and cooperation. Our future is better than before," he said. Also read: In a historic step, Union Minister Amit Shah signs Bru agreement to end over two-decade old crisis The Mizoram government has made at least nine attempts to repatriate the Brus since 2009 but they have been refusing to return to the state citing security reasons and insufficient rehabilitation packages offered by the Centre. Hence, the new agreement has been signed recently, has brought a glimmer of hope among the distressed Bru Tribals. The Brus would get all the rights that other residents of the state get and would now be able to enjoy the schemes and benefits of the Centre and the state governments. It is worth noting that a large section of people are getting their documentation done while others are opening bank accounts as the Centre has already declared a 600 crore rupees rehabilitation package for them.

For Bru refugees in Tripura, hope after years of struggle for settlement

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In a first, Bru migrants vote in Tripura's Lok Sabha polls after resettlement

For Bru refugees in Tripura, hope after years of struggle for settlement