Agartala/Aizawl, March 30 (IANS) Despite opposition in Mizoram against allowing tribal refugees in Tripura's relief camps to cast postal ballots, the Election Commission (EC) is firm on its decision, officials said Sunday.
Of the over 36,000 Reang tribal refugees, known as "Bru", living in the Kanchanpur and Panisagar refugee camps of Tripura for the past 17 years, about 11,500 are listed in Mizoram's electoral rolls.
These refugees have been casting votes for the Mizoram assembly and Lok Sabha elections through postal ballots.
"The Election Commission has appointed seven observers to oversee the voting of the tribal refugees from April 1 to April 3 in seven relief camps," Tripura Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Asutosh Jindal told reporters in Agartala.
He said the EC observers have already arrived in Tripura and visited the refugee camps in north Tripura, 190 km north of Agartala.
Voting for Mizoram's lone Lok Sabha seat will be held April 9.
Five NGOs and youth organisations, led by the Young Mizo Association, organised protest rallies in Aizawl and other places of Mizoram last week demanding that the poll panel revoke its decision.
"We have sent a memorandum to the Election Commission conveying our protest... But it is yet to respond to it... We will continue our protest," said Lalhmachhuana, president of Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and member of the coordination committee of the five NGOs and youth bodies.
The NGOs also demanded that all refugees be sent back to their Mizoram villages before the Lok Sabha poll. They added that the names of those refusing to return be deleted from the electoral rolls.
Lalhmachhuana told reporters the refugees left Mizoram of their own will (in 1997 and later in 2009) and showed wrong reasons for not returning despite several repatriation programmes undertaken by the state government.
The tribals fled after ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos over the killing of a Mizo forest official.
About 5,000 refugees returned to their homes in the past three-and-half years following continued persuasion by Mizoram, Tripura and union home ministry officials. The process got stalled after that with many refusing to return unless their security is guaranteed.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla earlier this month urged Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath not to allow the refugees to vote through postal ballots.
Jindal, the Tripura CEO said: "Like on previous occasions, the EC has decided to take the votes of the refugees in the relief camps in north Tripura through postal ballots."
"At least one facilitation centre would be set up in each of the seven camps during the first week of April so that the eligible refugees could cast their votes," he said.
Earlier this month, the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), an organisation of the refugees, asked the EC to conduct polling in the camps.
The MBDPF had complained to the poll panel that many eligible voters in the camps were not included in the voters' lists of Mizoram.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has told both the prime minister and the union home minister on a number of occasions that "continuous presence of refugees from Mizoram for over 17 years has been a matter of concern for Tripura".
The refugees have been insisting that without a formal agreement between the central government, the two state governments and the tribal leaders, their return and rehabilitation will remain uncertain.
Govinda Health Update: When will Govinda be discharged from the hospital? Their wife Sunita told about the actor's health.
Fans and well-wishers of actor Govinda are worried about his health. On Tuesday morning, the actor was accidentally injured due to a bullet shot from his licensed revolver, after which he is
Election politics in Bengal: Nadda did a roadshow in Malda, said in the rally - Mamta Ji is now regretful of hot, when the bird has devoured the field
The electoral atmosphere in West Bengal is hot. BJP is starting the Parivartan Yatra on Saturday. BJP's national president JP Nadda will begin his first journey from Nadia to Navadwip. Earlier at a
Kejriwal compensates for the loss of crops due to unseasonal rains, handed over checks of compensation to the farmers of Delhi
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday handed over checks of compensation to farmers to compensate for the loss of crops damaged by unseasonal rains. Kejriwal today distributed compensation
Star players withdrawing from IPL: After Ashwin and Tie, Zampa and Richardson also withdrew from the tournament; Cited the worsening condition of Corona
The whole country is struggling with the second wave of Corona. More than 3 lakh new infections are coming out every day. A large number of people are dying. In such an environment, the Indian Premier
Avoid Parallel trial on Subjudice Matters: Jaitley to Media
New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley Sunday asked the media to avoid conducting parallel trials while reporting subjudice matters.Delivering the first
UP Election 2022: Now Akhilesh's ordeal in Yadav belt and Bundelkhand, in 2012, 37 seats were occupied by SP
After the Legislative Assembly seats with Jatland and dominant Muslim votes, now Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav's ordeal is in the Yadav belt and Bundelkhand adjoining his home district
Coronavirus Update: Corona cases continue to rise in the country, new cases cross 10 thousand
The process of increasing the cases of Coronavirus in the country is going on once again. In the last 24 hours, more than 10 thousand new cases have been registered across the country.
Assam to set up wildlife museum in Kaziranga
Guwahati, Jan 30 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Friday announced that the state government would set up a state-of-the-art interpretation centre and wildlife museum with modern 3D shows
Chris Jordan: IPL 2023 Shock to Mumbai, Jofra Archer out of remaining matches, England's Yorker specialist becomes replacement
In IPL 2023, the match is to be played between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore on Tuesday. However, Rohit's paltan has already suffered a major setback before this. Fast bowler, Jofra
Was poison found in Mayank Agarwal's water? The cricketer complained to the police; Something like this happened in the flight...
Indian opener and Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal was admitted to a local hospital on Tuesday after falling ill before boarding a flight to New Delhi. The cricket world is shocked by this incident.
