BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 26th April 2024: The Bru-Reang refugees, who had been displaced due to communal riots in Mizoram and sought refuge in Tripura, have cast their votes in the Lok Sabha elections in Tripura for the first time. These refugees, who have been residing primarily in the Kanchanpur sub-division of Tripura for many years, previously did not possess the right to vote in the state.
The refugees had to travel back to Mizoram to exercise their voting rights. However, a recent shift in their status has allowed them to participate in the democratic process in their adopted state. Following their resettlement in various parts of Tripura, they were issued identity cards, granting them the status of voters in the state.
The polling station at Haduklak Para English Medium School in the Ambassa sub-division witnessed a significant turnout of these newly enfranchised voters. The Bru-Reang refugees, in a festive mood, formed long queues since morning to cast their votes.
One of the Reang refugees expressed his joy, stating that this was the first time they had voted in Tripura. He shared that previously, they had to travel to Mizoram to exercise their voting rights. The sense of happiness among the voters was palpable.
Sanjeev Debbarma, the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) of Ambasa, confirmed that a separate polling station had been arranged for the Bru-Reang refugees at the Haduklak Para English Medium School. He further added that the voting process went smoothly without any issues.
The Bru-Reang refugees exercised their voting rights in a total of six seats in the East Tripura Lok Sabha constituency, including Ambassa. The sight of long queues of voters at every polling station since morning was a testament to their enthusiasm to participate in the democratic process.
The rehabilitated Bru Reang voters expressed their happiness at being able to exercise their right to vote for the first time in the state, marking a significant milestone in their journey as refugees.
