Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports over alleged harassment of refugees from Myanmar, the NHRC has ordered issuing of notice to Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu and Chennai Police Commissioner calling for reports over the issue within four weeks.
Observing that if the media reports were true, it was a serious issue of violation of human rights, an NHRC official quoted Commission member Justice D. Murugesan as observing: “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 provide shelter to them.” A section of the media reported that a total of 57 refugees, including women and children, suddenly arrived at Manali in Tamil Nadu on September 3 with their belongings to stay there. The residents of the area spoke to them and as they could not follow their language, they informed the local police.
The refugees had informed the Assistant Commissioner of Police (South) and the Revenue Divisional Officer that they were from Myanmar and that they had come to Chennai in 2012 and stayed at Kelampakkam.
After the owner of the land on which they stayed asked them to vacate, they were brought to Manali, where all of them were accommodated in one room. Following opposition from the local residents, the police asked them to vacate and they were later moved to Mannadi.
