After eight months of displacement due to the conflict between the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) and security forces, 11 families who had sought refuge in different places for safety made their way back to their homes in Prata Para, Ruma upazila, Bandarban.
On Saturday afternoon, 48 individuals including men, women, and children from 11 families of the Bom community returned to their dwellings.
The residents of Prata Para said that in March of this year, the KNF, a banned ethnic separatist political organization in the hills, attacked a military camp in Baklai Para. In response, the military launched a counter-operation against the KNF base, leading to gunfire and creating panic among the local populace. At that time, for safety, residents fled Prata Para to seek refuge elsewhere.
Following a peace agreement on November 5 during the first face-to-face meeting between the Peace Establishment Committee and the KNF in Munlai Para, Ruma, these 11 families, comprising 48 individuals including men, women, and children, returned to their homes in Prata Para.
Lalminsang Bom, who returned to his home, said: "We had left our village about eight to nine months ago. I am very happy to be able to return to our home in Prata Para with the help of the military. We seek peace and security."
Piya Niya Bom, a resident of Prata Bom Para, said: "Due to the conflict, we had to seek shelter in the forests and with relatives for a long time for safety. We are very happy to be able to return home."
Regarding this matter, the Vice Chairman of Thanchi upazila, Chosa Thowai Marma, said: “They left Thanchi Bazar at 11am on Saturday and returned to their homes by the evening."
The 18-member Peace Establishment Committee was formed in June this year with the leaders of various communities under the leadership of Zilla Parishad Chairman Kya Shew Hla to help KNF members return to normal life.
The district administration had banned tourist travel in the area due to the KNF conflict starting from October 17 last year, but later lifted the ban.
On November 5, the first in-person meeting between armed separatist group KNF and a Peace Establishment Committee was held amid heavy security. Earlier, the KNF had held several video conferences with the Peace Establishment Committee, but this was the first time that a direct meeting was held between the two sides.
Since November 15 last year, at least 548 people from 132 families have taken refuge in Mizoram due to the armed activities of KNF and operations by different security agencies to arrest its members.
On January 28, some 140 Marma women, men and children took refuge in Ruma Sadar from Mulpi Para, but they returned to their homes on February 5.
On March 10, around 220 people of 56 families from Barathli four Union of Rangamati's Bilaichhari took shelter in Tangchangya Reichha and Rowangchhari Sadar Upazila in fear of the armed activities by the KNF members.
In this incident, 5 army members were killed, along with 16 others, including KCNF members. At least 20 people were kidnapped.
As a result, the district's business and trade collapsed, and instability prevailed in daily life. Joint forces claimed that the KNF had ties with militant organizations. During this time, in the hills, 68 militants of Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and several KNF members were arrested, and a large amount of arms and equipment were recovered.