Joint Statement on the Illegal Deportation, Detention, and Torture of Rohingya refugees by India Context and Legal Status of Rohingya in India India hosts an estimated 22,500 Rohingya refugees registered with the UNHCR who are rendered stateless by the Myanmar military regime. Recent state actions—particularly forced deportations and indefinite detentions—have raised serious legal and humanitarian concerns, especially regarding violations of the principle of non-refoulement and basic human rights protections. Summary of the Recent State Actions against Rohingya Refugees Action 1: Maritime Expulsion of Rohingya Refugees to Myanmar On May 6, 2025, over 40 Rohingya refugees were arbitrarily taken from their homes in Delhi without legal counsel and flown to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Their UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) issued cards and possessions were confiscated. On May 8, they were then blindfolded and handcuffed, and forced onto a naval ship, and at around 2:00 am on May 9, they cast into the sea close to the Myanmar coast with only life jackets. The UN condemned the act as a severe breach of international norms and initiated an enquiry. The National Unity Government of Myanmar independently confirmed these reports to Indian and international media. Action 2: Land Border Pushbacks into Bangladesh On May 6, 2025, Indian forces forcibly expelled around 370 undocumented individuals, including 102 Rohingya refugees (held at the Matia detention centre in Assam) — many minors, pregnant women, and the elderly — into Bangladesh. They are currently detained by the Bangladeshi authorities. These collective expulsions were conducted without any legal procedure, and some individuals were allegedly tortured beforehand. Codifying Exclusion: State Directives and Court Rulings In the first week of May 2025, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs issued directives to all states and union territories to identify and deport undocumented migrants within 30 days. This has led to increased detention of Rohingya refugees throughout the country, with the Indian Government seemingly planning to deport them. Despite many Rohingya refugees holding UNHCR-issued Refugee Cards, these documents are being disregarded by the Indian authorities. On May 8, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that the right to reside in India is limited to citizens, and dismissed petitions against deportations, further reinforcing the state’s hardline stance against Rohingya refugees violating both domestic and international norms. Violation of International and Domestic Laws