Local residents resent Bangladeshi refugees

Bangladeshi refugees staying at Sultan Garhi in south Delhi came under attack from the residents on Thursday.

A group, consisting of 360 villages and resident welfare associations of Vasant Kunj, has decided to hold a mahapanchayat on May 16 to take action for eviction of the refugees.

With respect to the refugees from Bangladesh staying in the area, the Sarv Samaj Sadbhavna Samiti brought the security and hygiene concerns of the locals to the notice of divisional commissioner.

“We have nothing against the refugees, but this is not the place where they can be stationed. There are ramifications on health,” said Col Devinder Sehrawat, secretary, Delhi Gramin Samaj, part of Sarv Samaj Sadbhavna Samiti.

He said a number of plants and trees have been cut in the last few days to facilitate the settlement of refugees, which will damage the ridge area.

The authorities have promised that the refugees will be shifted by May 15. The Samiti said it will take upon itself to evict refugees from the land they are occupying right now if the authorities fail to do so.

Myanmar refugees

Jawaharlal Nehru University students staged a protest on Thursday outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) demanding refugee status for the agitating Myanmar refugees camped in the premises of a mosque near Mahipalpur.

“These are gross violations of human rights. They are living in abominable conditions in the refugee camp. The government can make international treaties for nuclear bombs but there are no treaties for the refugees who come here,” said Sucheta De, president JNU students’ union (JNUSU).

JNUSU and the refugee representatives met UNHCR officials. “The officials said negotiations are on with the government. The refugee representatives have been asked to give their problems in writing. A meeting is scheduled on May 15,” said  JNUSU member.