UN Urges Investigation into India’s Treatment of Rohingya Refugees

The United Nations has requested an investigation into alleged mistreatment of Rohingya refugees by Indian authorities, who reportedly expelled them into perilous waters off Myanmar amidst rising tensions with Pakistan and a broader crackdown on minority Muslims in India.

The United Nations has voiced serious concerns following claims that Indian authorities have participated in the inhumane deportation of Rohingya refugees, a vulnerable group fleeing persecution from Myanmar. Reports indicate that some refugees have been forcibly taken by naval vessels and pushed into the Andaman Sea, directly into the very perilous situation they initially escaped.

Tom Andrews, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, has labeled the allegations as “outrageous,” emphasizing the necessity for a thorough investigation into the Indian government's actions. He expressed his disappointment and urged officials to stop what he termed “inhumane treatment” and to avoid repatriation of refugees to dangerous conditions in Myanmar.

As regional tensions escalate following accusations against Pakistan for a terror attack that resulted in multiple casualties in India, the government has implemented strict measures which include the expulsion of Pakistani citizens and a broader crackdown on Muslim communities, particularly targeting those of Rohingya or Bangladeshi descent.

This crackdown has seen thousands of individuals rounded up under the pretext of illegal residency. Critics have pointed to Gujarat and Rajasthan as the epicenters of these actions, which many see as a continuation of a campaign to suppress minority populations in the country. The Indian government has yet to respond to the allegations or the U.N.'s call for accountability.