by Hafizur Rahman, August 29, 2025
Indian authorities have expelled scores of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh and Myanmar since May 2025 without due process or protections, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said this week. Several hundred more remain arbitrarily detained, amid reports of mistreatment and abuse by officials.
Crackdown on Refugees
According to HRW, the campaign began in May in states governed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, targeting both Rohingya and Bengali-speaking Muslims as so-called illegal immigrants. At least 192 Rohingya registered with the UN refugee agency were expelled to Bangladesh, while another 40 were forced onto a naval vessel near Myanmar’s coast and ordered to swim ashore. Dozens more fled to Bangladesh to escape detention.
Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said:
“The Indian government’s expulsion of Rohingya refugees shows an utter disregard for human life and international law. These actions reflect the ruling BJP’s policy of demonizing Muslims as so-called illegal migrants.”
Testimonies of Abuse
Nine Rohingya who recently arrived in Bangladesh told HRW they were either expelled or fled India due to fear of detention. Six described being assaulted by authorities, who confiscated their money, phones, and even UNHCR registration cards.
A 37-year-old woman detained in Assam’s Goalpara district recounted how Border Security Force officers forced her family into Bangladesh at gunpoint on May 6. Her husband was beaten so badly he lost hearing in one ear. “They threatened to kill us if we spoke further,” she said.
On the same day, 40 Rohingya refugees—including women and children—were detained in Delhi, flown to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and forced aboard a naval ship. Survivors said they were beaten before being thrown into the sea near Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region. Officers reportedly taunted them: “No one will speak for you. No one will hold us accountable if we kill you all.”
Forced Returns and Beatings
Other testimonies point to similar abuses. A UNHCR-registered Rohingya man from Hyderabad said police detained his family on May 15 while traveling to Bangladesh. His four-year-old daughter was beaten, and officials seized the family’s belongings before forcing them across the border. Refugees also reported being coerced into recording videos falsely claiming they were Bangladeshi nationals trying to enter India.
International Concern
Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, condemned the expulsions, calling them evidence of a “blatant disregard for the lives and safety” of vulnerable people. In March, he had already raised concerns about arbitrary detention, deaths in custody, and deportations in India.
An estimated 40,000 Rohingya live in India, about half registered with UNHCR. India is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, but it remains bound by the international principle of nonrefoulement, which prohibits returning people to countries where their lives or freedoms are at risk.
Legal Uncertainty and Insecurity
India’s Supreme Court is set to hear a case on September 23 to decide whether Rohingya should be treated as refugees or illegal entrants. In May, the court refused to halt deportations and dismissed reports of refugees being abandoned at sea as a “beautifully crafted story.”
For many Rohingya, insecurity persists. In Jammu, shelters were vandalized and at least 30 refugees arrested. One woman who fled to Bangladesh in May said police dismissed both UNHCR cards and Myanmar documents, accusing the community of being Bengalis.
A 29-year-old man expelled to Bangladesh in June summarized the despair:
“From one place to another place, from one country to another country, we are fleeing and searching for hope which is never going to be found.”
HRW Calls for Action
Human Rights Watch urged India to immediately halt expulsions, recognize Rohingya as refugees, and cooperate with UNHCR to ensure their protection.
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