Rohingya refugees draw NHRC attention

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Taking suo moto cognisance of a media report about alleged mistreatment of Rohingya Muslims in Chennai, the human rights body on Monday asked the Tamil Nadu chief secretary and Chennai police commissioner to file a report within four weeks.

In his order, NHRC’s Justice D Murugesan said, “Contents of the newspaper reports regarding the pathetic condition of the refugees including women and children, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights.

“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,” Justice D Murugesan said.

The refugees had arrived in Tamil Nadu way back in 2011 and had been living in the Thayyur village near Kelambakkam till recently, earning a living by picking plastic waste.

When the land owners asked them to vacate the plot, they approached local Muslim acquaintances, who helped them move to Manali.

However, Manali residents opposed their camping in the area, forcing them to be shifted to Kelambakkam.

And for last few days, the refugees have been staying in makeshift camps in Kelambakkam with a feeling of uncertainty that they might have to shift from this place too.

Source: bdnews24