City police collaborating with UNHCR authorities
Representational image
Hyderabad: As the issue of illegal immigrants has become a major concern, the city police has started collaborating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to keep tabs on and help Myanmar refugees living in Hyderabad.
Cyberabad police officials met representatives of UNHCR on Tuesday to discuss the status of 1,725 refugees settled here. “Since the Indian government has given them permission to live in the country as refugees, it is our duty to help them build a better life. They came to our country after facing a miserable situation, so we need to ensure they live here in dignity,” said Shamshabad DCP A.R. Srinivasa.
However, due to recent developments in the city, in which some Myanmar natives acquired Indian passports illegally, the police is concerned. “We need to make sure that they do not resort to illegal activities. They ought to abide with the law of our country. So we are now documenting details of all the refugees with the help of UNHCR and other organisations,” said the DCP.
Senior police officials said that majority of the refugees were living without breaking the law, and only a few had engaged in illegal activities. The police was earlier not keeping a vigil on the refugees and only a few voluntary organisations used to interact with the community.
Though the UNHCR had reached out to the community to issue them refugee cards and help them build shelters in city, their job was left half done, as they did not have a proper count of the total number of refugees.
UNHCR associative repatriation officer Sachidananda Valan told the police that they would start the process of interviewing the refugees and would issue refugee cards to all deserving candidates. The undeserving candidates would be send back.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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