NHRC notice to TN over 'harassment' of Myanmar refugees

Taking sou motu cognisance of a media report about alleged harassment of refugees from Myanmar near here the National Human Rights Commission today issued notice to Tamil Nadu government directing reports to be filed within four weeks.
Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Police, Chennai, have been asked to send reports within four weeks.
Justice D Murugesan, Member of the Commission observed that a newspaper report on the "pathetic" condition of the refugees including women and children, if true, raised a serious issue of violation of human rights, NHRC said in a statement.
"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 in utter disregard to their human rights. The state authorities have the duty to protect the human rights of the refugees and to provide shelter to them," it further observed.

NHRC, quoting the media report, said about 57 refugees including women and children arrived at Manali (North Chennai), near here on the September 3 with their belongings to stay there.
They informed the authorities that they were from Myanmar and had come to Chennai during 2012 and had stayed (earlier) at Kelambakkam (Kanchipuram District) near here.
"The owner of the land where they stayed (Kelambakkam), asked them to vacate and therefore, one Kabir Bai brought them to Manali to settle them. Accordingly, all of them were accommodated in one room," the statement said.
The people of the locality opposed their staying in Manali and due to the opposition the local police asked them to vacate, NHRC said. They are now lodged in a community centre in Kanchipuram District.