Tripura’s royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya Deb Burman on Wednesday said he would file a writ petition in Tripura High Court against the Centre’s decision to stop rations for Bru refugees living in the state.

Deb Burman visited Kanchanpur subdivision in North Tripura district on Wednesday and met Brus who have put up a road blockade since October 31 against stopping of rations by the Centre since October 1, which has reportedly led to the death of six people, including two infants.

Addressing the Brus at Laxmipur village, he said the agitation should be peaceful and not go against any community. “I am requesting you all to make sure that no communal decisions are taken here. I will take up this issue with the Mizoram and Tripura governments,” he said.

“It is against Article 21 of the Constitution to stop rations. Today, I will meet the Tripura Indigenous Lawyers Association at Agartala and file a writ petition with the High Court of Tripura. This is your state and this place belongs to you. I Pradyot Deb Burman, your Bubagra (Kokborok word for king), am saying that it’s your place.”

He said if the Tripura government can consider land for BSF firing range and accept lakhs of people from another country, why can’t it do the same for Brus who are refugees in their own land.

The former PCC president said he had left his party because senior leaders were forcing him to compromise with his people. “I can’t compromise with my people. I will buy some patta land for Brus. You identify the land, I will buy it from my own pocket. Bubagra will provide you lands, Bubagra is always with you,” the royal scion said.

On Sunday, state additional chief secretary Kumar Alok had said the displaced Brus must repatriate in accordance with the agreement signed between the Bru leaders, the Mizoram and Tripura governments and the Centre. However, the Bru refugees continued their road blockade on the seventh day on Wednesday despite promulgation of Section 144 CrPC on Monday night.

The Bru Tribal Development Society, Mizoram Bru Indigenous Democratic Movement and the Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples’ Forum, which represent the displaced Brus living in Tripura, said they had submitted a joint memorandum to the North District magistrate, saying that they had “withdrawn the blockade of road” in front of the sub-divisional magistrate’s office in Kanchanpur at 2.30am on Wednesday, honouring Alok’s request. However, it added, the protesters disagreed with their decision to withdraw the blockade without any positive commitment from the Centre or the Tripura government and decided to continue the demonstration.

They said they had suggested in the memorandum that the government resume relief, rations and cash dole following which the demonstrators might withdraw the blockade till an amicable solution is reached.

Sub-divisional magistrate Abhedananda Baidya denied having received any such memorandum or statement.

North superintendent of police Bhanupada Chakraborty said the situation was “peaceful” and they had deployed 1,600 personnel of CRPF, TSR and police to maintain law and order.