India is accused of inhumanely deporting Rohingya refugees

NEW DELHI – The United Nations has called for an investigation into “credible reports” that Indian authorities rounded up Rohingya refugees and expelled them, in some cases by putting them into the Andaman Sea off the shore of the same country they had escaped from, fearing persecution and death.

The episode appeared to be part of a broader recent crackdown, as officials of India’s government used a moment of conflict with its neighbour Pakistan to expand a campaign of oppression against minority Muslims.

“The idea that Rohingya refugees have been cast into the sea from naval vessels is nothing short of outrageous,” said Mr Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.

“I am seeking further information and testimony regarding these developments and implore the Indian government to provide a full accounting of what happened.”

He urged the Indian government to refrain from “inhumane and life-threatening treatment of Rohingya refugees, including their repatriation into perilous conditions in Myanmar”.

The Indian government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

As tensions escalated with Pakistan after India accused it of having a supporting hand in a terror attack that killed more than two dozen Indians in April, Indian authorities announced punitive measures, including expelling Pakistani citizens.

Officials of right-wing governments across several Indian states rounded up thousands of Muslims, purportedly Rohingya or Bangladeshi people living illegally in India. Such labels, along with “Pakistani”, are often used to target Muslim migrants from other parts of India.

The most sweeping actions were in Gujarat, in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state, and in Rajasthan.

While a majority of those detained turned out to be Indian citizens and were later released, those who were identified as Rohingya and Bangladeshi have been deported in large numbers, including some with