India Accused of Dumping 40 Rohingya Refugees into the Sea

India has reportedly transported 40 Rohingya refugees from New Delhi and abandoned them in the Andaman Sea—a claim made by the United Nations Human Rights Office in a recent statement.

According to a report by the Associated Press (AP) on Friday (16 May), the UN alleges that the Indian government has stepped up its forced deportation of Rohingya refugees who had fled persecution in Myanmar. As part of this drive, the Indian Navy allegedly forced 40 Rohingya individuals into the sea.

The UN has appointed a special investigator to probe the incident and has warned India to refrain from subjecting refugees to such inhumane treatment in the future.

Legal representatives from the UN Refugee Agency pointed out that the detained individuals were not presented before a court under Article 22, which is a violation of India's Constitution.

Following a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017, over one million Rohingya fled to Bangladesh. During that time, around 22,000 entered India, where they were recognised as refugees by the United Nations.

However, the Indian government has long viewed the Rohingyas as a threat to national security and does not officially recognise refugee status under its law, labelling the group as illegal immigrants.

Human rights groups claim that Indian security forces have used increasingly harsh and cruel measures to deport Rohingya refugees.

Local rights organisations report that on 6 May, police in New Delhi detained several Rohingyas. Among them, 40 were blindfolded and transported nearly 1,500 miles to the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

There, they were handed over to the Indian Navy and boarded onto a naval ship. The vessel sailed toward the Tanintharyi region of Myanmar, across the Andaman Sea.

Survivors said they were given life jackets and ordered to jump into the sea once the ship neared Myanmar's maritime border. Indian personnel instructed them to swim to a nearby island.

One victim's family member said, "My brother told me they were all given life jackets, and after their blindfolds and restraints were removed, they were forced into the water. They swam for about 30 minutes before a fisherman rescued them and took them to an island. My brother called me using the fisherman's phone."

India’s People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) stated that among the 40 were minors, elderly individuals, and even a cancer patient. Thankfully, all survived and reached shore. Some reported being beaten and mistreated by Indian naval personnel.

Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, called the incident "deeply disturbing" and said, "Forcing refugees off a naval ship into the sea is horrific. I am collecting further evidence and testimonies and call on the Indian government to provide full clarification."