Talks held between Mizo govt, BNLF

AIZAWL, March 3 ? Talks between Mizoram government and the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) were held Friday in ?cordial atmosphere? with both sides expressing wish for reaching an agreement on contentious issues like Bru repartriation, reports PTI. State Chief Secretary HV Lalringa said though both sides were for early resumption of talks, the dates for the rounds could be fixed on April 10, after the assembly session was over. While Lalringa led the government delegation, the four-member BNLF team was led by its self-styled home secretary Zaithanga Apeto. Two representatives of the Bru Welfare Association also accompanied the BNLF team. The ongoing talks gained significance as the Mizoram government, under pressure from both Tripura government and the Centre for immediate repatriation of Bru refugees in six refugee camps in Tripura, insisted that the BNLF should first lay down arms and eschew violence for meaningful talks. The BNLF is an underground outfit of Brus demanding a separate autonomous district council for the community in Mizoram and had been engaged in violent activities against the State government from its bases across the border since 1997, official sources said.