In an incident with international ramifications, six members of the Rohingya community were allegedly abducted in Bengaluru for not paying the weekly payment to a local strongman.
According to the Amruthahalli police, abductors had allegedly taken six youth from a Rohingya settlement in Dasarahalli and later released five of the, after receiving a ransom of Rs 40,000 from their family members. However, one youth, identified as Dil Mohammed, is still missing.
Around 40 Rohingya families live in Bengaluru's Dasarahalli colony and work as ragpickers for a civic contractor. It is alleged that a man, known as Hilal, and his associates often extort money from them and harass the women.
Police state that on October 31, Hilal with his men began harassing the Rohingya and demanded money from them as 'hafta' for continuing ragpicking work in the area. Some of the refugees refused to pay the money.
Upon their demand being denied, Hilal and his men allegedly beat up the Rohingya settlers, assaulted a pregnant woman and children. They, reportedly, also stole mobile phones and valuables from the refugees, before abducting the six youth.
The Rohingya families later transferred Rs 40,000 for the safe release of the youth but only five were sent back.
The Amruthahalli police filed an FIR on Thursday against the abductors. Hilal, along with his associates, has been charged with wrongful confinement, extortion, assault or force to outrage the modesty of women, and unlawful assembly.
The police are now trying to track down the accused who are absconding and locate the sixth missing Rohingya youth.
The families of the victims, meanwhile, have written to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, with the help of a Bengaluru-based NGO named Law and Policy Research Institute, for assistance.
"The Rohingya community now fears that there might be a backlash on them as they have taken steps against the illegal assault and harassment by the neighbouring community. In this background, this representation requests UNHCR’s assistance," the letter said.