Nine Rohingya individuals, who had been residing illegally in India for 13 years, were arrested near the Bangladesh border in Assam and are facing deportation.
In a recent development, nine members of the Rohingya community from Myanmar were detained near the India-Bangladesh border in Assam’s Cachar district. The group had allegedly entered India illegally nearly 13 years ago.
According to police officials, the group consists of two men, two women, one teenage girl, and four children. They had been living in various parts of India before traveling from Hyderabad to Cachar. Their journey culminated at Hilara Railway Station on Monday, after which they sought shelter near the international border.
Cachar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Numal Mahatta confirmed that the detainees were apprehended from the Katigorah area on Tuesday evening, following a tip-off from intelligence sources.
“They have been staying in India for many years. Recently, they traveled here with the intention of living in this area. They did not attempt to cross the border, but our team intercepted them before they could settle here,” Mahatta stated in a media briefing.
The detainees revealed to the police that they had entered India from Bangladesh approximately 13 years ago and had worked in various states, including Jammu & Kashmir and Telangana. One of the detainees, Abu Bakkar Siddiqui, noted that while they originally hailed from Myanmar, their family members are currently in Bangladesh. “Due to the recent crackdown on migrant workers, we decided to return,” he explained.
Another detainee, Samsur Alam, claimed that they were aided by a human trafficking network that facilitated their journey to Assam and advised them to remain near the border. “We were told not to go out in the daytime, but we went to the market as we had no food,” he recounted.
Authorities have registered a case against the group and confirmed that they will be deported in accordance with directives from higher authorities.
As the situation unfolds, the plight of the Rohingya community continues to draw attention, highlighting ongoing issues related to migration and human rights in the region.
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