In brief
40 Rohingya refugees were reportedly deported by Indian authorities back to Myanmar, raising serious human rights concerns. The refugees describe their ordeal of being taken from Delhi, forced onto a naval vessel, and ultimately dropped into the sea. They now face life in a war-torn Myanmar, as families in India fear for their safety and future.
On May 9, Noorul Amin received devastating news: his brother and four relatives were among 40 Rohingya refugees allegedly deported by India back to the war-torn Myanmar. With the country engulfed in civil unrest since a 2021 coup, these refugees are now experiencing extreme dread as they confront a hostile environment.Noor, speaking from Delhi, described the trauma of his family, stating, I could not process the torment that my parents and the others who were taken are facing.After being forcibly removed from Delhi under the guise of biometric data collection, the refugees were flown to a region in the Bay of Bengal, placed on a navy vessel, and dumped into the sea. They bound our hands, covered our faces and brought us like captives [on to the boat]. Then they threw us in the sea, one deportee recounted in a desperate phone call home.The allegations have been met with criticism from human rights advocates who highlight the precarious situation of Rohingya refugees in India, where they are regarded as illegal immigrants, not refugees. Many have expressed fear over a rise in deportations amid a prevailing sense of insecurity. The UN has asserted that Indian authorities have put the lives of these refugees at extreme risk by forcibly returning them to Myanmar.For their families in India, the actions of the Indian government evoke fear and uncertainty, as they wonder whether they too might face similar fates. The conflict continues, with numerous reports citing mistreatment and dehumanization of Rohingya refugees both in India and in Myanmar. Thomas Andrews, the UN's special rapporteur, emphasizes the gravity of the situation, reflecting on the humanitarian crises surrounding the Rohingya community.
