The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted a charge sheet against three Myanmar nationals in a case related to the illicit infiltration and trafficking of foreign nationals, predominantly of Rohingya descent, into India via the India-Bangladesh border.

“The accused are Rabi Islam alias Rabiul Islam, Shafi Alam alias Sofi Alom alias Sayedul Islam, and Mohammad Usman – all permanent residents of Maungdaw district in Myanmar,” said a spokesperson of the NIA.

“As per our investigation, they entered India illegally, in collusion with traffickers and touts, without valid travel documents. They were also involved in facilitating the infiltration of numerous other foreign nationals through unauthorized and illegal border routes,” the spokesperson said in the statement.

“Part of a well-organized network of traffickers and touts involved in various illegal activities, they were also engaged in luring vulnerable Rohingya women, who had taken refuge in Bangladesh, into India on the false promises of marriage to Rohingya men. Such women were then sold for forced marriages across various Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana and Haryana,” the spokesperson said.

An investigation has revealed instances of document forgery, providing evidence that Rabi Islam and Mohammad Usman fraudulently acquired Aadhaar unique identity cards. The duo had also used these cards to procure multiple SIM cards and open bank accounts, further concealing their true identities.

With this chargesheet, the NIA, which started probing the case on November 7, 2023, has taken a significant step towards uncovering and dismantling a major international human trafficking racket and network. The federal agency carried out raids at 55 locations, and 44 middlemen were arrested. The agency has registered four cases to probe a larger nexus involved in illegal immigration and is likely to seek help from Bangladeshi authorities to identify middlemen and key players on the other side of the border.

The government has consistently asserted that illegal immigrants, including Rohingyas, pose a threat to national security. Reports indicate that certain Rohingya migrants have been involved in unlawful activities.

In a September 2017 affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court in response to a petition filed by two Rohingya immigrants seeking refugee status, the Union home ministry stated, “Continuance of Rohingyas’ illegal immigration into India and their continued stay has serious national security ramifications and threats.”

The affidavit estimated that at that time, there were approximately 40,000 Rohingya Muslims in the country. Intelligence inputs indicated that certain Rohingyas had connections with terror organizations based in Pakistan. Additionally, the affidavit highlighted concerns about their involvement in anti-national activities, including the mobilization of funds through hawala channels, obtaining fake identities, and engaging in human trafficking.

India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and rejects the UN position that deporting Rohingyas violates the principle of refoulement or the forcible return of asylum seekers to a country where they are liable to face persecution.

Image source: Rising Kashmir