NEW DELHI (AP) — The United Nations and Rohingya refugees have accused Indian authorities of forcing dozens of Rohingya onto the open sea near Myanmar last week.
According to the UN human rights office, the Indian navy allegedly dropped around 40 Rohingya — including women, children, and the elderly — into the sea after detaining them in New Delhi. The group, equipped only with life jackets, reportedly swam ashore in Myanmar, but their current status is unknown.
Five Rohingya refugees told the Associated Press on Friday that their relatives, including 15 Christians, were detained on May 6 and flown out two days later, only to be forced into the water near the Myanmar border. Lawyer Dilawar Hussain, representing the families, has filed a petition with India’s Supreme Court, urging authorities to bring the refugees back.
India’s navy and foreign ministry have not commented.
The UN called the reported actions "unconscionable" and "unacceptable," and appointed a special expert to investigate. It urged India to end inhumane practices against Rohingya and warned against deporting them to dangerous conditions in Myanmar.
UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews condemned the act as a “blatant disregard for human life,” violating the international legal principle of non-refoulement, which forbids returning individuals to places where they face serious threats.
India lacks a formal refugee policy and is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. Yet, it hosts around 40,000 Rohingya, of whom 22,500 are registered with the UNHCR. Many live in poor conditions in camps across the country.
One refugee in India, speaking anonymously for safety, said his detained brother contacted him on May 8 using a borrowed phone after reaching a Myanmar island. He claimed Indian authorities removed their blindfolds, handed them life jackets, and told them to swim ashore. His family — including his parents and siblings — was among the deported.
The refugee shared photos of his brother in police custody and described how the group was detained under the guise of collecting biometric data. He also provided a call recording in which another deportee said some members were beaten by the navy.
These accounts could not be independently verified.
Rohingya in India have increasingly faced hostility from Hindu nationalist groups calling for their removal. Many have been detained or deported to Bangladesh or Myanmar. Critics say India’s 2019 citizenship law further marginalizes Muslim migrants, including Rohingya.