Nearly 100 refugees imprisoned in Manipur, India are protesting Indian authorities’ plans to return them to Myanmar with a strike that has been ongoing for two weeks, according to social workers assisting them.
The striking prisoners, most of whom are residents of Magway and Sagaing regions, fled to India amid intense fighting near their homes following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup. Indian authorities arrested and imprisoned them for crossing the border illegally among other alleged offences.
The refugees initiated the prison strike in response to rumours that the Indian authorities had made plans to hand over 77 of the 159 people in custody back to Myanmar’s military regime.
Since 28 prisoners launched the strike on June 16, the number of participants has grown to 99, according to Salai Dokha, the founder of the humanitarian organisation India for Myanmar.
Although the refugees suspended the hunger strike. . .
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