India Forcibly Deports Rohingya Refugee to Myanmar

New Delhi, India – Indian authorities have arrested, detained, and forcibly deported at least 40 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, from the capital city of New Delhi to Myanmar, where they now face severe risks of persecution, detention, and possible torture.

The wave of arrests began on May 6, 2025, when Indian security forces raided areas in New Delhi known to host Rohingya refugees. On the following day, May 7, the detained individuals were reportedly transferred to the northeastern state of Manipur and then handed over to Myanmar authorities, according to multiple human rights monitors.

This forced return constitutes a blatant violation of the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international refugee and human rights law, which prohibits returning individuals to a country where they may face threats to their life, freedom, or dignity.

In a strong condemnation, Fortify Rights, an international human rights organization, issued a public statement demanding India halt all forced returns of Rohingya refugees.

“India has international legal obligations to protect and uphold the rights of all refugees on its territory and must immediately halt forced returns of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar,” said Yap Lay Sheng, Human Rights Specialist at Fortify Rights.

Fortify Rights confirmed that the deported individuals were not granted due legal process or access to international protection mechanisms. The organization expressed grave concerns that the refugees now face indefinite detention, abuse, or worse upon their forced return to military-controlled Myanmar.

This is not the first time India has deported Rohingya refugees. Since 2018, multiple cases have been documented in which Rohingya individuals—many of them registered with the UNHCR in India—were arrested under the Foreigners Act and sent back to Myanmar.

Despite appeals from international bodies, India has refused to recognize Rohingya as refugees, calling them “illegal immigrants,” and has increasingly criminalized their presence. The latest deportation follows a similar pattern of arbitrary detention, denial of asylum rights, and refoulement without international oversight.

The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, have long faced persecution, ethnic cleansing, and genocidal campaigns from the Myanmar military. Since the 2017 crackdown, hundreds of thousands have fled to neighboring countries including Bangladesh, Malaysia, and India, seeking protection.

Refugee rights advocates stress that India, as a member of the UN and a signatory to various human rights treaties, must be held accountable for its actions and pushed to uphold international humanitarian principles.

Human rights groups, Rohingya advocates, and legal experts are now urging:
• An immediate end to all forced returns of Rohingya from Indian soil.
• Accountability mechanisms for Indian officials responsible for the violations.
• International protection for all Rohingya refugees in India and neighboring countries.

The deportations are taking place against the backdrop of a growing crisis in Arakan State, where both the Myanmar military and Arakan Army have launched coordinated operations, displacing and targeting Rohingya civilians.

India’s recent actions not only endanger vulnerable lives but also set a dangerous precedent that could encourage other countries to abandon their commitments to refugee protection. The international community must act now to stop refoulement, protect stateless communities, and demand accountability for grave violations of refugee rights.

Rohingya Vision News will continue to monitor and report on this developing situation.