Amnesty India on Friday condemned India’s detention of 25 Rohingyan refugees in Jammu & Kashmir’s Ramban district, calling the move “an abject dereliction of India’s human rights obligations and an egregious violation of international law”.
According to officials, at least 25 Rohingya men belonging to the Tablighi Jamaat were detained and sent to Hiranagar holding centre.
“Their detention comes at the heels of the unlawful deportation of Hasina Begum, a Rohingya refugee to Myanmar on 22 March 2022 in violation of the principle of non-refoulement,” tweeted Amnesty.
Many Human rights groups have flagged India’s apathy toward Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar to escape the violent military crackdown.
An estimated 40,000 Rohingya are in India, at least 20,000 of whom are registered with UNHCR.
Since 2016, ultranationalist Hindu groups have targeted Rohingya refugees in Jammu as part of growing attacks on Muslims in India and called for their expulsion from the country. Since October 2018, the Indian government has deported 12 Rohingya to Myanmar, claiming that they left voluntarily.
On 06 March 2021, 169 Rohingya refugees were sent to the Hiranagar holding centre, following which the government had to conduct the process of nationality verification to pave way for their deportation.
“Indian authorities are well aware of the human rights violations Rohingya Muslims have had to face in Myanmar and it is outrageous to abandon them to their fates,” Amnesty added.
