The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) will investigate claims of abuse by the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) on a group of Indian nationals in front of the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur last week.

Suhakam commissioner Dr Abdul Monir Yaakob said he and other commissioners would visit the Lenggeng detention camp in Negri Sembilan to talk to 61 people allegedly detained by Rela officers during a raid on Feb 28.

"We would like to talk to them (the detainees) to find out what really happened. We need to ascertain the facts alleged in the memorandum (from Tenaganita)," he said when contacted today.

He said the director of the detention camp had given permission for the team to visit the detainees at noon on March 13.

Abdul Monir (photo, right) said Suhakam was acting on a complaint by migrant rights group Tenaganita who, on March 2, had alleged that Rela officers had used excessive force when conducting the raid.

According to eyewitness accounts, the 61 were allegedly beaten, kicked and chased by 20 Rela officers during the raid before being taken away into two trucks.

Others who managed to escape are currently taking refuge in the Indian mission. When met by malaysiakini, they showed bruises and marks allegedly sustained during the raid.

The detainees were among more than 100 Indian nationals who claimed they had been duped by agents who brought them into the country to work in Johor.

They had been camping in front of the Indian mission in hope that their government would help them resolve their woes.