The issue of illegal immigration has been a significant concern in India, with multiple cases involving Rohingyas coming to light in 2024.
Authorities in Maharashtra and Delhi have intensified measures against illegal Bangladeshi migrants, focusing on deportation, document verification, and school-level checks. In Delhi, a 12-hour verification drive in the outer Delhi area identified 175 suspected illegal immigrants, according to officials. This drive, initiated on 21 December 2024, is part of a broader operation directed by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to address unauthorized residents. Police targeted areas like Kalindi Kunj, Uttam Nagar, Shaheen Bagh, and Jamia Nagar, verifying documents in slums and unauthorised colonies. Individuals lacking valid documentation were detained for questioning, with potential deportation under the Foreigners Act.
In addition, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has directed schools to identify children of illegal Bangladeshi migrants and halt issuing birth certificates to such individuals.
Let’s take a look at incidents of Rohingya arrest/detention that highlight the scale of the problem, as authorities across the country acted to detain individuals entering and residing in India without proper documentation.
17 December 2024: Two Rohingya Women Sentenced
In Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, a local court sentenced two Rohingya women, Dharulnisha Begum and Bibi Sara, to 15 months imprisonment under the Foreigners Act for illegal migration. Arrested in 2023, the duo admitted to crossing the border without valid documentation, facilitated by an agent.
13 December 2024: 39 Rohingyas Arrested In Chhattisgarh
Kawardha police arrested 39 Rohingyas during a district-wide campaign targeting illegal immigrants. The individuals found staying in rented accommodations and hotels without valid papers, now face legal proceedings.
11 December 2024: Rohingya Man Detained In Pune
Muzammil Khan, a Rohingya who had been living in Pune since 2013, was arrested for illegal residency. Authorities discovered he had fraudulently obtained Indian identification documents, including a passport and Aadhaar card.
5 December 2024: Two Rohingyas Detained In Tripura
Police in Agartala detained two Rohingya men, Rafiq Sheikh and Azim Uddin, who had crossed into India through the Sonamura region with the assistance of local brokers.
29 November 2024: Arrests In Jammu And Varanasi
In Jammu, three Rohingya women were detained for illegal entry. Reports suggest they were to be trafficked under the pretext of marriage. Separately, in Varanasi, Mohammad Abdullah, a suspected gang member involved in facilitating Rohingya infiltration, was arrested. Authorities recovered identification documents and a UNHCR card from him.
15 November 2024: Two Rohingyas Caught In Tripura
The Border Security Force (BSF) detained two Rohingyas at a bus stand in Karbuk, Tripura, for entering India without legal documents.
16 August 2024: Three Rohingyas Arrested In Agartala
The Government Railway Police (GRP) detained three Rohingyas, including two women, at Agartala Railway Station. The individuals had entered India via Bangladesh and lacked valid papers.
5 July 2024: Seven Rohingyas Detained In Tripura
In Churebari, Tripura, authorities arrested seven Rohingya nationals, including two newborns, who had entered India through brokers operating along the India-Bangladesh border.
8 June 2024: Two Rohingyas Detained In Tripura
Khowai police apprehended two Rohingyas, including a woman, attempting to cross the border illegally.
23 April 2024: Five Arrested In Unakoti
Police in Unakoti district detained five Rohingyas, including two minors, who had entered India through the Magurili border area in Bangladesh.
2 April 2024: Arrest In Kanpur
Four Rohingyas, including three women, were arrested in Kanpur with fake Aadhaar cards and Indian SIM cards. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) recovered forged documents during the operation.
1 March 2024: Eight Detained In Mumbai
Mumbai police, in collaboration with the Anti-Terrorism Cell, arrested eight Rohingya nationals from Uttan’s coastal area. Fake documents were also recovered.
6 February 2024: 24 Rohingyas Arrested In Assam
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) detained 24 Rohingyas in Guwahati for involvement in human trafficking and illegal entry into India.
1 February 2024: Sentencing for Trafficking And Rape
A Haryana court sentenced three Rohingya men—Mohammed Ayas, Hafiz Ahmed, and Mohammed Yunus—to 10 years in prison for trafficking and raping two Rohingya women in Nuh in 2021.
26 January 2024: Ammunition Recovered In Nuh
Saddam Hussain, a Rohingya residing illegally in Nuh, Haryana, was arrested with ammunition and forged Aadhaar and PAN cards.
10 January 2024: Rohingya Arrested In Kolkata
A Rohingya man was detained at Sealdah Railway Station in Kolkata. He had reportedly entered India in 2017 via Bongaon and lacked valid documents.
While many Rohingyas claim to flee persecution in Myanmar, the lack of documentation and allegations of criminal activities have heightened concerns over their presence in India.
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