The United Nations has shared shocking information about India’s treatment of Rohingya refugees. According to a report, the Indian Navy forced 40 Rohingya refugees into the sea near the Andaman Islands. This alarming claim was made by the UN Human Rights Office.
The news came out on Friday, May 16, through a report by the Associated Press (AP).
The UN Human Rights Office said the Indian government has recently stepped up efforts to send Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar. As part of this effort, the Indian Navy allegedly took 40 Rohingyas and forced them into the sea.
Rohingyas are among the most oppressed people in the world. In 2017, more than one million of them fled to Bangladesh to escape ethnic cleansing by the Myanmar military. At that time, about 22,000 Rohingyas entered India. The United Nations recognized them as refugees.
However, the Indian government does not accept them as refugees. India has long seen the Rohingyas as a threat to internal security. Some officials have also accused them of being involved in terrorism. Under Indian law, no one can officially seek asylum as a refugee. As a result, the government treats all Rohingyas as illegal.
Many human rights groups have accused Indian forces of being cruel in their handling of Rohingyas. They say India is violating international laws by sending refugees back in harsh and unsafe ways.
The UN has raised strong concern over a recent event. On May 6, police in New Delhi reportedly detained several Rohingyas. Among them, 40 were taken over 1,500 miles away to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Reports say they were blindfolded during the transport.
At the island, they were placed on a navy ship. The ship sailed toward the Tanintharyi region of Myanmar, which is close to the Andaman Sea.
Some of the refugees on the ship later shared their experience. They said that when the ship neared the coast of Myanmar, Indian forces gave them life jackets. Then, the refugees were forced to jump into the sea. They were told to swim to a nearby island in Myanmar.
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), a rights group in India, gave more details. They said that among those forced into the water were teenagers, elderly people, and even a cancer patient. By luck, all 40 refugees reached the shore safely. Some of them said they were beaten and mistreated by the Indian navy.
Tom Andrews, the UN special envoy on human rights in Myanmar, reacted strongly. He said, “Forcing refugees into the sea from a navy ship is deeply disturbing.” He added that he is gathering more evidence and witnesses about the event. He also called on the Indian government to explain its actions.
This is not the only case of concern. Last week, Indian border guards pushed 78 more people into Bangladesh. They were caught in Gujarat and left abandoned in the Sundarbans forest. On May 10, Bangladesh found and rescued them. Reports said that they were starved and treated cruelly.
These incidents have raised serious concerns about how India handles vulnerable refugees. International organizations are now calling for full investigations and urgent actions to stop such human rights abuses.
