Tension between Brus and Mizos simmering again
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Aizawl, April 30 2013:
The tension between the Bru (Reang) and the Mizo communities simmers following the death of one Bru/Reang man in the Tripura-Mizoram border village.
The Bru community blames the Mizos for the death while the latter denied it.
Following this development, Young Mizo Association (YMA), in the western belt of Mizoram, has resorted to blockading of Langkaih Bridge at Kanhmun for an indefinite period of time starting from 5 p.m.yesterday.
According to reports received from the YMA, the road link between Mizoram and Tripura through Langkaih Bridge and other routes are closed in protest against the attempt to implicate the people of Mizoram in the unnatural death of Sebaram Reang, a Bru man who had reportedly committed suicide while in Tripura police custody.
The YMA also said that all entry points will be blocked by the YMA members who are to be deployed in rotation.
It may be recalled that Sebaram Reang was one of the 8 members of an armed group arrested by Tripura and Mizoram Police in a joint operation.
He had reportedly committed suicide while searching for arms and ammunitions hidden by the armed group.
The police continue to hunt for seven other members of the group.
It can be noted here that tension between the Brus and the Mizos crops up from time to time.
Mizoram had witnessed the climaxed of this tension in the year 2009 when houses of Mizos and Brus were burnt by each other.
In a Mizoram district of Mamit bordering Tripura, Mizo youths set the Bru (Reang) settlements and reduced 313 houses to ashes in November, 2009 .
The violence in 2009 was triggered by the killing of an 18 year old Mizo youth identified as one Zarzokima by Bru militants.