New Delhi:India has come under scrutiny for allegedly deporting 38 UNHCR-registered Rohingya refugees without due legal procedure, reportedly abandoning them at sea near the Myanmar coast.
According to multiple testimonies and a petition filed in the Supreme Court, these refugees—who had been living in various parts of Delhi—were summoned by police on May 6 under the pretense of biometric verification. The next day, they were reportedly moved to the Indralok Detention Centre. Instead of being released as promised, they were flown to Port Blair and allegedly handed over to the Indian Navy, which abandoned them in international waters.
David Nazir, a Christian Rohingya refugee residing in Delhi, told India Tomorrow that refugees from Uttam Nagar, Vikas Puri, and Kanchan Kunj were picked up on May 6. Among the 38 were around 15 Christians. After two days in detention, they were taken to sea, blindfolded, and with hands and feet bound. Near the Myanmar coast, their restraints were removed, and they were given life jackets. Officials allegedly asked, “Do you want to go to Myanmar or Indonesia?” The refugees expressed fear of returning to Myanmar due to persecution and requested Indonesia. They were then pushed into the water and told someone would rescue them. No one did. Some managed to swim to shore, where they were rescued by fishermen and realized they were in Myanmar’s waters.
The group included women, children, elderly people (some up to 66 years old), and individuals with serious illnesses like cancer, TB, heart disease, and diabetes—all legally registered with the UNHCR in India. One of the women later contacted her relatives in Delhi with help from local fishermen and recounted the ordeal.
Two Rohingya refugees, Nurul Amin and Ismail, have filed a petition in the Supreme Court, with legal support from senior advocate Colin Gonsalves. They allege the deportation violated Indian constitutional protections and international obligations. Ismail said his sister and niece were taken under the pretext of biometric data collection, and days passed without any updates. He later learned they had been left at sea by the Indian Navy.
Nurul Amin said five of his family members—including his elderly parents and brothers—were similarly abandoned. He also revealed that police forcibly removed his mother from a hospital where she was attending to his wife, who had just lost their unborn child. Nurul said when he tried contacting the police, they insulted him instead of giving information.
UNHCR’s legal officer, Dilwar Hussain, confirmed that there was no legal order from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for such deportation, which is mandatory. He stated that blindfolding and forcing refugees into open sea constitutes a gross violation of human rights. The last contact with the refugees was on May 9.
The Supreme Court has asked the petitioners to furnish proof of the alleged deportation, although Hussain pointed out that it is extremely difficult for refugees to gather evidence under such traumatic circumstances. The petition also highlights that Myanmar does not recognize Rohingya as citizens, making deportation there unlawful under international law.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves condemned the incident as “deliberate cruelty,” even alleging sexual harassment of female refugees due to the absence of female officers on board the ship.
The Indian government has defended its action by stating that India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. However, India is a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture, which prohibits sending individuals to countries where they may face danger.
A hearing is scheduled for July 31 in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, families remain distraught and in fear, awaiting word about their missing loved ones.
