Agartala, May 23: The Reang tribals, identified as the only “primitive group” in Tripura, have set in motion a process of unity under the banner of a socio-cultural organisation to protect the interests of the community. A state convention of Reang “Chowdhurys” (chieftains) is being held in Karbook area under Amarpur subdivision of South Tripura to float a new organisation.
More than 500 Reang chieftains from all over the state are attending the meeting, though CPM MP from East Tripura, Bajuban Reang, will not attend as he is in Delhi.
Vasishtha Reang, a senior leader of the community, said during the past decade of insurgency in Tripura, the Reangs have been worst affected.
“Many Reangs have been killed, kidnapped and hundreds of impoverished families displaced from their homes and hearths,” said Reang.
He said under the banner of a new organisation like the Jamatya Hoda (supreme community council), the Reang community would also resist militant depredations at the grassroots level.
Reangs of Karbook and Shantir Bazar of South Tripura’s Belonia subdivision have already stopped paying “tax” to the militant outfits.
“This will be followed by efforts to bring back Reang youths involved with militant outfits to the mainstream,” said Reang.
He pointed out that Reangs were the poorest section in Tripura.
Most of the 55,000 shifting cultivators in the state belong to the Reang community.
“It will function on the lines of the Hoda of the Jamatya community and act as guardian of the Reangs in Tripura,” Reang said.
Efforts were on to bring the Reang tribals living in Mizoram under the banner of the new organisation, he added.