A five-month-old girl has died after authorities fired teargas at Rohingya refugees trying to escape a detention centre in Jammu’s Hiranagar where they have been held for more than two years.
The baby girl failed to receive treatment after inhaling the gas, alleged the Rohingya Human Rights Initiative, which campaigns for Rohingyas in India.
“Daughter of Muhammad Saleem and Namina Khatun, Omar Habiba lost her life due to exposure to tear gas and the lack of prompt medical treatment, despite repeated appeals for help,” the group said on 19 July.
More than 270 Rohingya detainees at the centre in Jammu’s Hiranagar have been on hunger strike since April over their detention.
The Rohingyas at Hiranagar were detained in March 2021, accused of living in India illegally, despite their status being recognised by the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR.
Videos showed that Muhammad Saleem and Namina Khatun were forced to attend the last rites of their 5-month-old baby, handcuffed and escorted by the police.
Around 6 am on 18 July, clashes broke out between over 200 Rohingya refugees and police authorities, who resorted to “firing at the open crowd, lathi charge and throwing tear gas at the refugees.”
Social media videos have emerged that the refugees who were attacked included pregnant women, disabled persons, and sick and elderly persons who required urgent care and attention
