Bengal child rights panel moves SC against moves to deport Rohingyas

New Delhi Sep 21 (IANS) The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court to oppose the Central government s moves to deport Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar.

The Central government had on September 18 had told the apex court that the moves to deport Rohingya was a policy decision in the larger interests of the country and that some of the Rohingya refugees were linked to Pakistani terrorist groups.

However the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights is opposing the move by describing it as "inhuman" and "anti-human".

WBCPCR Chairperson Ananya Chakraborti had on Wednesday told IANS that "there is no question of sending the children back."

The Commission had said that "in this situation deporting the Rohingya children and their mothers staying in different shelter homes and correctional homes of Bengal means to throw them into the jaws of death".

Mohammad Salimullah a Rohingya refugee has already moved the top court seeking its intervention to stall the moves for the Rohingyas deportation contending that they face certain death and torture upon their return to Myanmar.

Chakraborti had said that as many as 24 Rohingya children are staying in shelter homes and 20 in prisons with their mothers but the panel had refused to share the list with the Centre.

The Rohingya refugee matter is listed for hearing by the top court on October 3.

--IANS
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