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India accused of forcing Rohingya refugees into sea near Myanmar
At least 40 refugees, including children and old folks, were given life jackets, then cast adrift near the India-Myanmar border, UNHCR says
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Indian authorities allegedly forced dozens of Rohingya refugees off a naval vessel into the sea near Myanmar last week after providing them with life jackets, a United Nations agency, family members of the refugees and their lawyer said.
The UNHCR said in a statement on Thursday that at least 40 Rohingya refugees were detained in New Delhi and cast into the sea by the Indian navy near the maritime border with Myanmar.
The refugees – including children, women and older people – swam ashore, but their whereabouts in Myanmar remain unknown, the agency said.
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Five Rohingya refugees on Friday confirmed that their family members were part of the group that were detained by Indian authorities on May 6. The group, including 15 Christians, were flown in an aircraft and later cast into the sea by Indian navy authorities on May 8, they said.
Dilawar Hussain, a lawyer representing the refugees, said the families had filed a petition in India’s top court, urging the Indian government to bring them back to New Delhi.
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India’s navy and foreign ministry declined to comment.
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