The Bru National Union (BNU), a political organisation of Reangs, was formed in 1994. The BNU anchored its demand in the presence of a majority of Reangs in the Mamith sub-division of Mizoram state, and declared that their rights — political, economic and cultural among others — were not justifiably protected under the prevailing political arrangement.

The Reang Democratic Convention Party (RDCP), another Reang organisation, passed a resolution in this regard. This reportedly provoked Mizo organisations like Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and Young Mizo Association (YMA) — fearing geographical division of Mizoram — to organise violent attacks, in October 1997, on Reang settlements. As a result, approximately 32,000 Reangs were displaced in the conflict and have since been staying in refugee camps in the Kanchanpur sub-division of the neighbouring Tripura state.