Following the release of six individuals implicated in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Tamil Nadu officials have maintained that four of them will be sent back to Sri Lanka, despite concerns over Sri Lanka’s human rights abuses.
The four Sri Lankan nationals were taken to a special refugee camp in the Trichy district on Saturday evening after their release. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, legal advocate Romiyo Roy noted that four can appeal their cases to remain in India on the basis of “principle of non-refoulement” as they face a credible threat of mistreatment in Sri Lanka.
He warned however that the government may “ask them to stay in the special refugee camp under Section 32E of the Foreigners Act which empowers the Government of India to detain any foreigner in a special camp”.
An alternative proposal would be for these individuals to go to European countries, that are willing to accept them so that they can be reunited with their families.
“It’s a grey area in law and this is also ultimately in the hands of the Government of India and the courts” Roy told the Hindustan Times.
Read more here.
