Agartala, May 16: Around 400 members belonging to non-tribal families have taken shelter to reserve forest land in North Tripura’s Pekucharra village after being evicted from their rented homes in Kanchanpur but the forest personnel have asked them to vacate the place.

According to reports, forest personnel manhandled the people who had taken refuge in the land which belonged to the reserve forest.

These families, currently residing in temporary tent accommodations, recount a harrowing tale of displacement, which left them landless.

“We have come here after we were forced to leave our village due to the atrocities of tribal people. They took away our cattle and slaughtered them . We have given numerous cases but none of the accused was arrested by police. Without any other alternative, we have taken shelter here, but forest personnel came and started abusing us and manhandled some of our members,” said a woman victim.

The people belong from Anandbazar, Dasda, and Kanchanpur but they have been displaced first due to the influx of Mizoram Bru displaced people, followed by communal clashes.

Despite possessing legal documents, including voter cards and AADHAR, and participating in recent elections, they find themselves marginalized and displaced within their own state.

Their recent migration to Pekucharra was prompted by the discovery of vacant land, yet their settlement has been met with resistance from forest authorities due to its protected status.

In response to the escalating situation, high-ranking Forest officials, including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), along with senior forest and police officials, conducted a site visit to assess the circumstances.

The displaced families have asked the state government for alternative land for them where they can settle with their families.

Tripura Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma expressed sympathy for the affected individuals but clarified that reserved forest land cannot be allocated to anyone.

He mentioned the possibility of allocating government land to legitimate landless citizens of Tripura after verifying their credentials.

Also Read: Manipur govt allots 30-acre grassland to conserve endangered ‘Polo Ponies’

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