[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled from Myanmar to India are once again facing the threat of deportation.
According to AFP and local media on the 8th, Mukesh Singh, head of the Jammu Police Department in northern India, stated the day before, "168 Rohingya have been detained in custody since the 6th."
Chief Singh said, "All Rohingya living in Jammu are illegal immigrants," adding, "We have started identity verification procedures for them, which will ultimately lead to their deportation." He further explained, "Once nationality verification is complete, the relevant information will be sent to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi," and the ministry will discuss their forced deportation with Myanmar.
Currently, it is known that about 5,000 Rohingya refugees live in Jammu and the nearby Kashmir region. The United Nations (UN) estimates the number of verified Rohingya refugees in India to be 16,000. However, AFP reports that the number of unregistered refugees is likely much higher. The Indian government estimates the total number of Rohingya refugees in the country to be around 40,000.
These Muslims reportedly fled to India in 2017 to escape the Myanmar military's clearance operations. At that time, most refugees fled to the Islamic country Bangladesh, but some came to India and settled there.
However, since Narendra Modi's government took office in 2014, it has focused on deporting illegal immigrants. The Modi administration considers some Rohingya refugees to be linked with extremist groups such as the Islamic State (IS), viewing them as a threat to national security.
As the deportation movement against Rohingya in India becomes visible, fear is spreading among the refugees. During the recent identity verification and detention process by Indian authorities, it is reported that parents and children were forcibly separated.
Border patrols in the northeastern region adjacent to Myanmar are also being strengthened. This is to prevent further crossings by Myanmar nationals after 48 people, including eight Myanmar police officers, fled to India, refusing to follow the military junta's orders.
Unlike the US and other Western countries, India has taken a cautious stance, refraining from actively condemning the Myanmar coup. To counter China's expanding influence in Myanmar, South Asia, and beyond, India has recently made efforts to improve relations with neighboring countries, including providing COVID-19 vaccines free of charge.
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