The Mizo convention, a social organisation of Mizo people living in Jampui hill of Kanchanpur subdivision in North district of Tripura, said on Tuesday that it would file a PIL in the high court, challenging the government if it doesn’t withdraw its plans of settling the Bru displaced people permanently across the sub-division.

The general secretary of the Mizo Convention of Jampui Hill, Zairemthiama Pachuau, told The Telegraph that if the state government does not permanently withdraw its plan of settling the Bru refugees in Kanchanpur subdivision, they will go for an indefinite strike.

“We are also considering filing a PIL in the high court challenging the government’s mismanagement of the whole resettlement programme,” he said.

Altogether 12 proposed land sites for resettlement of Bru people in Tripura were identified, including five in North district, one in Unakoti, three plots under Dhalai district and one plot in each Khowai, West and in

Sepahijala districts. It held a protest at Satnala village and blocked the road of government officials and Bru leaders from visiting Manu Chailengta, one of the five proposed sites for Bru settlement in the North district.

“The reason for the protest was the government’s intention of settling the Bru refugees in Kanchanpur subdivision. And the whole programme is being implemented without consulting us. The protest has been temporarily lifted as the sub-divisional magistrate assured in writing that no site visit will take place except in CCRF area until further notice from state government,” he said.

“We can no longer trust them as the government often does not honour its written commitments. So, our youth under the banner of Mizo Convention Youth Wing decided to start guarding our traditional boundaries at undisclosed strategic locations to prevent the team of government officials and Mizoram Bru leaders from visiting the proposed sites within Jampui Hill RD Block area,” he added.

Soon after the state government and Centre decided to settle the Brus in the state permanently, two organisations, including the Mizo Convention and Nagarik Suraksha Mancha of North district, raised strong objections to the permanent settlement of the Bru displaced people across the district and demanded to resettle them somewhere else.

They have alleged that communal harmony has deteriorated in Kanchanpur subdivision.