PUCL alleges illegal deportation of Rohingya refugees, calls for urgent probe

PUCL condemns illegal deportation of Rohingya refugees from India, highlighting inhumane treatment and violation of legal obligations.

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has strongly condemned the alleged deportation of 40 Rohingya refugees from India, describing the reported action as “illegal”, “inhumane”, and tantamount to a “duplicitous deportation” in violation of both domestic and international legal obligations.

In a detailed statement issued this week, PUCL alleged that the refugees were forcibly removed from the national capital and transported to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, before being abandoned in international waters near the conflict-ridden Tanintharyi region along the Myanmar-Thailand maritime border.

According to PUCL, the deportation was carried out surreptitiously by detaining the refugees - many of whom were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - under the pretext of collecting biometric data. Detained by the Delhi Police on May 6, the individuals were reportedly moved to various police stations before being shifted to the Inderlok Detention Centre. Although authorities initially claimed that the transfer was for biometric processing, the refugees were subsequently flown to Port Blair.

“Shockingly, 43 detainees were not released after biometric collection. Instead, they were blindfolded, handcuffed, and placed aboard naval vessels. Upon reaching the maritime border near Myanmar, they were thrown into international waters,” PUCL alleged. Among those deported were minors, elderly individuals, and persons with serious health conditions, including cancer.

Kavita Srivastava, PUCL president, criticised the Narendra Modi-led government’s approach to refugee policy, comparing it to the hardline immigration stance of the former Trump administration in the United States. “The BJP seems to have adopted a paradigm of disregard for the rule of law and judicial oversight. This so-called ‘pushback’ policy, as espoused by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is a flagrant violation of constitutional norms and international humanitarian principles,” Ms. Srivastava said.

An audio recording from one of the survivors, shared with PUCL, details alleged mistreatment aboard naval ships, including physical abuse, interrogation, and sexual harassment. “We were accused of involvement in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. When we denied it, we were told we were pretending. Women were abused. Eventually, we were abandoned at sea,” the survivor recounts.

PUCL general secretary Dr. V. Suresh noted that the National Unity Government of Myanmar has confirmed the presence of 40 rescued Rohingya individuals now under their protection. However, the whereabouts of three others remain unknown, and additional reports suggest that at least 14 more refugees were illegally detained and subjected to custodial violence.