A representative image of Rohingya Muslims (The Telegraph)
In a massive crackdown against Islamists who attacked a Hindu religious procession in Haryana’s Nuh on July 31, the Haryana police arrested some Rohingya Muslims. The Superintendent of Police, Nuh, Narender Bijarniya, told the media that, Rohingya refugees had illegally occupied lands in Haryana’s Nuh, and during the demolition drive, police found some of them were also involved in anti-Hindu violence.
The police statement
SP Bijarniya said Rohingya refugees had illegally occupied the land of Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran in Tauru, due to which the demolition drive was carried out, but some of them have also been identified for pelting stones and being part of the mob during the July 31 violence.
“We have identified a list of them who were involved in the violence and we have evidence for it and based on it the teams have arrested them,” said Bijarniya while speaking with the Hindustan Times.
Rohingya Refugees carry UN cards
As per the reports, the police have registered around 20 cases and, in relation to these cases, arrested as many as 25 Rohingya Muslims.
As per the details available on the internet, the police are examining the documents of the Rohingya refugees. In the preliminary investigations, it has been revealed that they all possess refugee cards issued by the United Nations. These refugees have entered the Indian state of Haryana via Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Hindustan reported that these Rohingya have entered India via Bangladesh, after the violence of 2017 against them. These refugees are currently living in different states of India, but the majority live in Haryana’s Nuh.
As per the data, there are as many as 2000 Rohingya living in Nuh currently. After the violence, the state administration is demolishing the illegal construction in the area and found 250 illegal shanties of Rohingya. The administration has demolished all these shanties and found that many of them were involved in the stone pelting against Hindus on July 31st attack.
Notably, the demolition drive took place in the Tavadu slum area. The police claimed that they have proof of Rohingya being involved in the violence. It is noteworthy that these immigrants are involved in various crimes in the region. However, the demolition drive by the administration was for their involvement in the attacks on Hindu processions.
Shockingly, a significant number of Rohingya refugees have been residing in a slum area situated approximately 500 meters away from the mini secretariat. It has been reported that over 200 slums have been established in this location.
NGOs came as shield for Rohingya Muslims
Sabber Kyaw Min, founder and director of Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (an NGO that works for the betterment of the community), said most refugees in these camps work as rickshaw pullers, ragpickers, and vegetable sellers.
“The FRRO officers had informed the refugee camp that they had a list of at least 17 refugees and had picked some of them who were identified by them for their involvement in the violence,” he said.
“This is an unfair practice and act of discrimination against them. The situation at the camps is grim and people live in fear. They are being treated as if they are dacoits or criminals. They are trying to make their ends meet,” he claimed.
Who are Rohingya Muslims?
Rohingya are predominantly Muslim refugees from Myanmar who fled their homeland following the targeted violence against the community by the government in 2017.
There are about 16,000 UNHCR-certified Rohingya refugees in India. The government estimate puts the figure of Rohingya refugees living in India beyond 40,000 with maximum concentration in and around Jammu.
Demography of Haryana’s Nuh
The region of Mewat, which takes its name after the dominant Meo jati, is spread across Nuh in Haryana, and Alwar and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan, besides some parts of Uttar Pradesh such as Mathura. The Meo jati, whose members claim Rajput ancestry, have almost been wholly Islamised. The region is a hub of crimes, the most prominent being cow slaughter, beef trade, and cyber fraud.
As per the census 2011 data, Nuh Tehsil of Mewat district has a total population of 287,101 as per the Census 2011. With 219,716 Muslims in the district, the Islamists made up a fair 77 percent of the total population. On the other hand with 66,285 Hindus the Hindu population makes up 23 percent of the total population. Forced conversion, cow smuggling, abduction, drugs, and murder are some of the many crimes that are rampant in the area.
The district is home to as many as 80 percent of the Muslim population, mostly from Meo Jati, with recent Rohingya settlements. As per a report by SwarajyaMag, a Rohingya Muslim settled in a refugee camp in Delhi shared his journey from Myanmar to India. He shared how Rohingyas are moved to India via the Bengal border and shifted to different parts of the country. The prime suggestions for them remain Jammu or Mewat.
Police action
Police officials have confirmed the arrest of approximately 60 suspects in connection with this incident. Additionally, 10 cases related to social media activities have been registered. Moreover, the number of injured individuals in the Nuh violence has increased to 88. By Friday, 70 of these injured individuals had been identified.
VHP’s shobha yatra
A religious procession organised by Hindus that started from Gurugram was violently obstructed by members of the Muslim community in Haryana’s Nuh district. In the violent clashes, Islamists pelted stones set hundreds of vehicles ablaze, and vandalized public property, leaving as many as two security personnel and four civilians dead. After the centre’s intervention and with the help of paramilitary forces, the situation was taken under control.
The religious procession, ‘Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra’, was flagged off from Gurugram’s Civil Lines by Bharatiya Janata Party district president Gargi Kakkar. When it reached Khedla Mod in Nuh, it was attacked, police said.
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