The Hindu : NHRC's intervention sought against illegal deportation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 21, 2002

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NHRC's intervention sought against illegal deportation

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI APRIL 20. An advocate and social activist has sought the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to prevent the Orissa Government from deporting Bangladeshi nationals from the State without proper identification.

In an application submitted to the Commission on Friday, Shanmuga Patro, submitted that the State authorities in Nabarangpur picked up about 20 persons and took them into custody for repatriation in violation of an earlier notice issued by the Commission to the Chief Secretary in this regard.

He said the Union Government by a communication in March last had issued a series of guidelines to the Orissa Government for enumeration of Bangladeshi nationals staying in the State. The State Government was also asked to refer the identified cases to the Centre to take a decision at their level for eventual deportation.

Mr. Patro said contrary to these guidelines, the State Government had resorted to deportation of Bangladeshi nationals without proper identification. As a result even genuine settlers were being branded as infiltrators, he said.

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