SC defers hearing in Rohingya Muslims issue to Nov 21, says state has big role to play

Shah Porir Dwip: Rohingya Muslims, who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh, carry an elderly woman in a basket and walk towards a refugee camp in Shah Porir Dwip (Source: AP)

Stating that Rohingya Muslims issue is of great magnitude and that the state has a big role to play, the Supreme Court on Friday deferred the hearing in the issue to November 21, but allowed petitioners to approach it in case of any contingency.

The latest development comes nearly three months after the Union Home Ministry stated that illegal immigrants such as Rohingyas pose security challenges as they may be recruited by terror groups. In July, the ministry had directed state governments to set up a task force at the district level to identify and deport illegally staying foreign nationals.

On August 9, the government told Parliament that more than 14,000 Rohingyas registered with UNHCR are in India, as per available data. Around 40,000 Rohingyas are residing in India illegally, as per some inputs. They are largely located in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan.

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In September, the government informed the apex court that the “illegal” influx of Rohingyas was “seriously harming national security of the country”. India also told the United Nations Human Rights Council that the prevailing situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine state should be handled with “restraint” and focus on the “welfare of the civilian population”.

Over 500,000 Rohingya Muslims have crossed over to Bangladesh since late August after Myanmar security forces retailiated to militant attacks with a broad crackdown that allegedly included killing and arson.

More details awaited