The Vice President of Jamaat e Islami Hind (JIH), Prof Salim Engineer, has voiced grave concern over the “inhumane deportation” of Rohingya refugees by Indian authorities. The statement comes after Maktoob reported that 40 Rohingyas, including women, the elderly and children, from New Delhi were thrown into the sea near Myanmar with only lifejackets.
In a statement to the media, Prof Salim Engineer stated, “We express grave concern over the reported forcible deportation of 43 Rohingya refugees, including women, children, the elderly, and the infirm, by Indian authorities.”
“According to multiple credible reports, the deported refugees were blindfolded, bound, and transported from New Delhi to Port Blair before being cast into international waters near the Myanmar coast on May 8, 2025, under the false pretext of transfer to a safe country. The refugees were left to swim ashore, only to find themselves back in the very country, Myanmar, that they had fled to escape genocide. If this is true, it is a disturbing and shameful departure from India’s constitutional and humanitarian obligations.”
Maktoob received the evidence that 40 Rohingya refugees India threw in the sea near the Myanmar coast are safe and now under the protection of the National Unity Government (NUG), a coalition of pro-democracy groups formed after the military coup in 2021.
A petition submitted in the Supreme Court of India stated that “children as young as 15, female minors as young as 16, senior citizens up to 66 years old, and people suffering from cancer and other ailments were among those abandoned into the sea without regard for their lives or safety”.
Salim Engineer criticised the deportation, urging the Indian government to honour its international and constitutional obligations. He reminded authorities that India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which prohibits the forced return of individuals to countries where they may face persecution or threats to their lives.
“The International Court of Justice has recognised the Rohingya as victims of genocide. Deporting them to Myanmar, under any guise, violates international law and moral responsibility. The deported individuals were registered with the UNHCR. Their forcible removal, despite possessing refugee identification, shows a blatant disregard for international humanitarian standards and India’s historical legacy as a refuge for the persecuted.”
Meanwhile, three Indians were among a group of 78 people who were allegedly pushed across the river into Bangladesh on May 8, according to a local police report. Lt Commander HMM Harun-Or-Rashid, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Coast Guard, said they rescued 75 Bangladeshi Muslims and three Indian Muslims, who had been illegally pushed into Bangladeshi territory by the Indian authorities.
“Deporting human beings like criminals, that too by endangering their lives at sea, is inhuman and unacceptable. We call upon the Government of India to immediately stop all forced deportations of Rohingya refugees, investigate the alleged abuses, and hold accountable those responsible for these violations. We urge the judiciary to take cognisance of any violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty and protects against arbitrary deprivation of these rights,” the statement read.
, Prof Salim Engineer, has voiced grave concern over the "inhumane deportation" of Rohingya refugees by Indian authorities.){kind=link}