Key Takeaways
• About 40 Rohingya refugees were allegedly deported by Indian authorities via the Andaman Sea in May 2025.
• UN and human rights groups condemned India for bypassing legal protections and risking refugees’ lives.
• The Indian Supreme Court demanded more evidence and did not halt deportations, reflecting a hardened political stance.
Allegations have surfaced in early May 2025 that Indian authorities deported around 40 Rohingya refugees by forcing them into the Andaman Sea. This incident has sparked strong reactions from human rights groups, the United Nations, and officials within India. It has also raised fresh questions about how India treats Rohingya refugees, the use of extralegal actions, and the wider risks facing this stateless group. Here, we explore the details of the alleged event, official responses, the context for Rohingya refugees in India, and what this could mean for the future.
What Reportedly Happened in May 2025
According to reports from several news outlets and rights groups, the series of events began in Delhi, one of the largest cities in India, where many Rohingya refugees had been living. These refugees held official documents given by the United Nations to recognize them as refugees, which is supposed to give them some protection under international rules.
In early May, Indian authorities reportedly detained several dozen Rohingya refugees in Delhi. Out of those detained, about 40 were then chosen, blindfolded, and flown on a long journey, covering almost 1,500 miles to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These islands sit far off the coast in the Bay of Bengal.
The details provided by sources such as The Maritime Executive and Fortify Rights say that after landing on the islands, the refugees were moved to an Indian naval vessel. This ship then sailed out into the Andaman Sea, heading towards the Tanintharyi coast of Myanmar, which is about 300 nautical miles, or roughly 555 kilometers, to the east.
Once close to waters near Myanmar territory, the navy reportedly told the refugees to put on life jackets and get ready to leave the ship. They were forced to jump into the water and had to swim toward a nearby island, which is believed to be in Myanmar’s territory. Those onboard included older people, teenagers, and cancer patients. Every single person survived and reached the shore, but it is not clear what has happened to them since then.
Who are the Rohingya Refugees?
The Rohingya are a Muslim minority from Myanmar 🇲🇲. For decades, they have faced discrimination, violence, and persecution in their home country. In 2017, after fresh rounds of violence in Myanmar 🇲🇲, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled to neighboring countries such as Bangladesh 🇧🇩, Malaysia 🇲🇾, and India 🇮🇳. Most Rohingya do not hold Myanmar 🇲🇲 citizenship, making them stateless and very vulnerable.
In India 🇮🇳, as of December 2024, there were about 22,500 Rohingya refugees registered with the United Nations, according to data from Refugees International. However, because India 🇮🇳 is not a member of the 1951 Refugee Convention, there is no special legal status for “refugees” under Indian law. Instead, Indian authorities often treat Rohingya as illegal immigrants.
UN and International Reaction
News of the alleged deportation caused major concern at the United Nations. Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar 🇲🇲, called the reports “nothing short of outrageous” and “an affront to human decency.” He publicly announced an inquiry into these actions, describing them as “unconscionable, unacceptable acts.” Andrews called on the Indian government to provide a complete explanation of what happened to the 40 Rohingya refugees who were reportedly forced into the Andaman Sea.
Human rights groups have echoed these calls, saying this case highlights the continued danger facing Rohingya refugees in India 🇮🇳. They worry that such tactics will put more lives at risk and set a bad example for other countries in the region.
Indian Government’s Response
Within India 🇮🇳, the government has not confirmed the events as reported. In the Supreme Court, during a hearing on May 16, 2025, a two-judge panel led by Justice Surya Kant spoke about the allegations. Justice Kant described the accounts as a “beautifully crafted story” and cast doubt on the details, noting the challenging time India 🇮🇳 is facing as a country. The court did not issue any orders to stop deportations and instead asked for firmer proof, underlining that more solid evidence is needed before taking legal action.
Comments by senior politicians also reflect a hardening stance. Himanta Biswa Sarma, a senior figure in India 🇮🇳’s ruling party, the BJP, described the practice of pushing back migrants without court proceedings as a “new phenomenon” and praised extralegal returns as an “innovation.” Such views have brought concern from human rights campaigners, who say this amounts to bypassing legal protections for a very at-risk group.
Life for Rohingya Refugees in India 🇮🇳
Daily life for Rohingya refugees in India 🇮🇳 is often marked by fear, uncertainty, and ongoing threats of arrest. Because India 🇮🇳 has no national refugee law or formal process to grant refugee status, the Rohingya rely on documents from the United Nations. But these papers do not protect them from police, and many have been detained or threatened with forced return to Myanmar 🇲🇲, where they face well-known risks of violence and persecution.
Rights groups like Fortify Rights and Refugees International have documented a pattern of mistreatment in the form of arbitrary arrest, long detention, and forced deportation. For example:
- Rohingya living in informal enclaves are at risk of police raids and sudden detention.
- There have been repeated reports of forced returns across land borders or via boats.
- People waiting for resettlement in a third country often face long delays, but at the same time, live in fear of being arrested or deported.
These pressures, combined with little access to legal jobs, education, medical care, or housing, make daily existence a constant struggle.
Why is this Incident So Alarming?
The reported deportation of 40 Rohingya refugees by forcing them into the Andaman Sea stands out for several reasons:
- Dangerous Method: Transporting refugees by air and sea, and then forcing them to swim to an unfamiliar, potentially hostile shore, puts their lives directly at risk, especially when some are sick or elderly.
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Lack of Legal Process: Bypassing courts and formal processes removes any hope of appeal or protection under the law, setting a new precedent claimed by some officials as an “innovation.”
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International Law Concerns: Even though India 🇮🇳 is not a member of the 1951 Convention, international rules still forbid “refoulement.” This is the forced return of refugees to a country where they may face harm. The United Nations and many others view these actions as possibly breaking this rule.
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Vulnerability of Rohingya: The Rohingya have almost nowhere safe to go. Pushing them back to Myanmar 🇲🇲, where their danger is well-documented, has been widely criticized.
The Journey from Delhi to the Andaman Sea
The details shared in these reports paint a bleak picture. Rohingya refugees, taken from Delhi, were flown for hours to the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These islands are usually seen as a tourist spot for Indian travelers, but in this context, they became a staging ground for a very different kind of journey.
Once on the islands, the refugees were transferred to a naval ship—a rare use of military assets in an immigration matter. The ship then traveled for hundreds of miles. Indian authorities reportedly pushed the refugees into the water close to Myanmar 🇲🇲’s shores after nightfall, heightening the risk even more. The group, including people as young as teenagers and as old as the elderly, had no choice but to swim to the island with only life jackets for support.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the current whereabouts and health of the 40 individuals are unknown, raising concerns about missing persons and the duties of India 🇮🇳 under human rights agreements.
The Role of Indian Courts
The Supreme Court of India 🇮🇳 is often seen as the place where basic rights can be defended. However, in this case, the court chose not to stop deportations without more proof, highlighting the difficulty in handling such claims. The need for “substantiated evidence” as stated by the court may leave many refugees in a legal catch-22—unable to produce hard proof while detained and at risk of summary removal.
This stand by the court matches India 🇮🇳’s broader legal position toward the Rohingya. Since India 🇮🇳 does not officially recognize them as refugees, they do not receive any special protections under Indian law. This has allowed authorities to treat them as illegal migrants, open to arrest, detention, and now, as some officials praise, new methods of removal.
The View of Human Rights Groups
Human rights organizations see this reported incident as part of a bigger pattern. Several groups, including Fortify Rights, have said that India 🇮🇳 has sent back Rohingya migrants before, sometimes quietly or without public attention. By choosing such extreme measures as putting people directly into the Andaman Sea, it signals a new level of risk and may encourage other countries to use similar tactics.
Groups also say that “pushbacks”—the act of turning away migrants or refugees at borders or on the high seas—are becoming more common worldwide, but they remain deeply controversial. For many rights campaigners, such actions break the main idea that everyone fleeing danger deserves a fair hearing and protection from harm.
Regional Impact and Worry
The events in the Andaman Sea fit into a larger regional problem. Southeast Asia often sees desperate boat journeys by Rohingya refugees, who sometimes spend weeks or even months at sea. Neighboring countries like Bangladesh 🇧🇩 and Myanmar 🇲🇲 are already struggling with large waves of refugees.
If more countries in South Asia or Southeast Asia start using methods like those reported, it could put even more lives in danger and weaken efforts to protect stateless groups. The United Nations warns that such practices can make the plight of Rohingya refugees much worse and encourage other governments to move away from standard protections set by global agreements.
Official Information and Next Steps
The direct involvement of Indian authorities in the Andaman Sea incident, the current legal position of the Supreme Court, and the absence of a formal law for refugees in India 🇮🇳 leave Rohingya refugees in a very difficult spot. With no country to call home and few legal rights where they live, their need for international help is stronger than ever.
People seeking more details on India’s immigration policies or legal documents related to asylum or deportation can read the official resources offered by the Ministry of Home Affairs of India.
Summary
The incident involving the alleged deportation of Rohingya refugees by forcing them into the Andaman Sea highlights urgent concerns about the treatment of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Reports suggest that Indian authorities arranged a deportation that bypassed normal legal steps and put lives at risk, despite international calls for protection. Official Indian responses range from doubt to open support for new deportation methods, while the Supreme Court has asked for more proof before taking action.
Unless there is a clear and humane policy, and strong pressure from both inside India 🇮🇳 and outside, the risk to Rohingya refugees remains high. Human rights groups and the United Nations have called for an immediate stop to forced returns, for respect toward international law, and for genuine efforts to protect those at risk. For now, the story stands as a warning about what happens when people without a country face hard borders and cold political choices.
Learn Today
Refoulement → The forced return of refugees to a country where they may face danger, persecution, or harm, violating international law.
Rohingya → A Muslim minority group from Myanmar, denied citizenship and often subjected to violence and persecution, making them stateless.
Andaman Sea → A body of water in Southeast Asia, bordered by India, Myanmar, and Thailand, often used by refugees escaping conflict.
Supreme Court of India → India’s highest judicial authority, responsible for upholding constitutional rights and hearing major cases, including those about refugees.
UN Special Rapporteur → An independent expert appointed by the United Nations to investigate and report on specific human rights themes or countries.
This Article in a Nutshell
In May 2025, Indian authorities allegedly deported 40 Rohingya refugees by forcing them into the Andaman Sea. This incident triggered outrage from the United Nations, rights groups, and sparked debate over India’s refugee policies, highlighting urgent concerns about legal protections and the future safety of stateless individuals in the region.
— By VisaVerge.com
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