A Rohingya refugee girl holds a jar.
Credit: Reuters Photo
Guwahati: Amid the military conflict with Pakistan, India resumed deportation of Rohingyas and sent at least 142 "refugees" from Assam and New Delhi to Bangladesh and Myanmar, since May 7.
Official sources said that 102 Rohingyas, who remained detained in the country's biggest foreigner detention camp at Matia in Assam, were taken to Tripura via buses and were "pushed back" into Bangladesh.
A few more "illegal migrants" from Bangladesh were also sent back along with the Rohingyas. Similarly, at least 40 Rohingyas were detained by police in New Delhi and were taken to Andaman on May 7 and were pushed towards Myanmar on the sea.
"This was done as part of a decision to deport the illegal migrants living across the country," said the official.
On Saturday, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters in Guwahati that Rohingyas and Bangladeshis detained in Matia camp were "pushed back" into Bangladesh.
"The Matia camp is almost free now. Only 30 to 40 foreigners who have pending litigations are now left there," Sarma said, describing it an "operation" by the Centre.
The Rohingyas were detained in the Matia camp in Goalpara in Assam after they had illegally crossed the border, mainly in Tripura and were trying to travel to different parts of the country.
The Rohingyas had fled Rakahine state of Myanmar following a long ethnic conflict and had taken shelter in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar. Many had illegally entered India as the conflict in Myanmar continued and due to poor conditions in the refugee camps in Bangladesh.
"I am scared, I may also be deported anytime," a Rohingya refugee, who has been campaigning against such deportation, told DH, on Monday. He said 21 refugees were similarly deported to Myanmar from India between 2018 and 2021 despite their requests.
Rohingya problem
According to the government, more than 40,000 Rohingyas are taking shelter, mainly in New Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Tripura. But according to Rohingya rights activists, the number is about 22,000.
"Our case is different from the migrants from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or any other country. They have their own country but the Rohingyas have been rendered stateless as the government in Myanmar, be it the elected government or the military rulers, have refused to accept us. Lakhs have been taking shelter in Cox's Bazar for decades now. We don't want to stay forever in India. We want to go back to our homes in Rakhine but the situation there is still not conducive," said the activist.
"India is respected for the humanitarian gestures they have shown to refugees and migrants and we expect the same in case of the Ronhingyas too."
India has refused to accept the Rohingyas as refugees as it is not a signatory of the UN Refugee Convention.