Nuh communal violence: Several Rohingya refugees arrested; Haryana Police says ‘we have evidence’

The Haryana Police has arrested several Rohingya refugees in connection with the recent communal violence in Nuh district.

Narender Bijarniya, Nuh superintendent of police, said Rohingya refugees had illegally occupied the land of Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran in Tauru due to which the demolition drive was carried out but some of them have also been identified for pelting stones and being part of the mob on July 31 violence.

“We have identified a list of them who were involved in the violence and we have evidence for it and based on it the teams have arrested them,” he told HT.

Sabber Kyaw Min, founder and director of Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (an NGO that works for the betterment of the community) said most refugees in these camps work as rickshaw pullers, ragpickers, and vegetable sellers.

“The FRRO officers had informed at the refugee camp that they had a list of at least 17 refugees and had picked some of them who were identified by them for their involvement in the violence,” he said.

Min said the surprise demolition with heavily armed forces started on Thursday and the refugees were thrown out of their space. The community fear arbitrary detention as some of them were asked to appear before a special branch of the police.

Min added that if any refugee is involved in illegal activities, the NGO will assist the police, but conducting such raids makes them feel unsafe and harassed. “This is an unfair practice and act of discrimination against them. The situation at the camps is grim and people live in fear. They are being treated as if they are dacoits or criminals. They are trying to make their ends meet,” he claimed.

Who are Rohingya?

Rohingya are predominantly Muslim refugees from Myanmar who fled their homeland following the targeted violence against the community by the government in 2017.

There are about 16,000 UNHCR-certified Rohingya refugees in India. The government estimate puts the figure of Rohingya refugees living in India beyond 40,000 with maximum concentration in and around Jammu.

Rohingya shanties bulldozed

On Thursday, shanties in Rohingya camps located in Nuh’s Tauru area were bulldozed, local police said, adding they had identified suspects among Rohingya refugees who were allegedly involved in July 31 violence in the area.

Over 50 illegal properties occupied by the Rohingyas were identified across Nuh, Prashant Pawar, Nuh deputy commissioner said, adding that the demolition drive was carried out by relevant agencies and police provided manpower and security.