The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government over the harassment of refugees from Myanmar in the state capital.
The commission, which took suo motu cognizance of a media report about harassment of refugees from Myanmar in Chennai, has issued notice to the chief secretary, government of Tamil Nadu and Commissioner of police, Chennai calling for reports within four weeks.
Justice D Murugesan, member of the NHRC observed that the contents of the newspaper clipping regarding the pathetic condition of the refugees including women and children, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights.
He further observed “it appears that the refugees have been asked to move from one place to another, looking for shelter. They are made to wander on streets. The state authorities have a duty to protect the human rights of the refugees and provide shelter to them.” According to the media report, carried on the September 4, 2015, about 57 refugees including women and children suddenly arrived at Thiruvalluar Street, Manali, Tamil Nadu on the September 3, 2015 with their belongings to stay there. The residents of the area reported the problem to the local police.
The assistant commissioner of police (South), and the revenue divisional officer visited the area and questioned the refugees. They said that they were from Myanmar and they came to Chennai during 2012 and stayed at Kelampakkam, Chennai. The owner of the land in which they stayed, asked them to vacate and therefore, one Kabir Bai brought them to Manali. All of them were accommodated in one room.
On hearing their statements, the people of the locality opposed their staying in Manali. Due to the opposition from people of the locality, the police asked them to vacate. Hence, they moved away from Manali to Mannadi.
