17, 000 Bru people of Tripura to cast vote in Lok Sabha election

In the upcoming Lok Sabha election, approximately 17,000 Bru internally displaced people (IDPs) in Tripura are poised to exercise their voting rights, marking a significant moment in their journey of resettlement.

The displacement of Bru (Reang) families from Mizoram due to ethnic violence in October 1997 led to the migration of a substantial number to North Tripura district in 1997-1998. Around 30,000 Bru migrants, comprising 5,000 families, found refuge in six relief camps established in the Kanchanpur district of North Tripura.

On July 3, 2018, a pivotal agreement was reached among the Centre, the Governments of Mizoram and Tripura, and the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) for the permanent resettlement of Bru people in Tripura. Subsequently, they were resettled in 12 locations across the state.

Speaking at a press conference, Puneet Agarwal, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tripura, highlighted the measures undertaken during the 2023 Assembly election to address the Bru community's electoral needs. Anticipating the movement of Bru families to different districts, auxiliary polling stations were established during the assembly election, which were later converted into permanent polling stations. This proactive approach facilitated the enrollment of most Bru families in the voter list.

Agarwal affirmed that the Bru issue remained significant during the previous assembly election, prompting the establishment of permanent polling stations across the 12 resettlement locations. As a result, an estimated 17,000 Bru individuals are expected to participate in the democratic process in Tripura, marking a milestone in their integration into the electoral fabric of the state.