Arakan News Agency
Indian police have arrested dozens of Rohingya Muslim men and boys in a dawn operation in Hyderabad.
At around 5am, hundreds of cops raided the Bala pur refugee camp arresting around 70 men and boys. They knocked on doors of some houses and asked for the heads of families to come out. As they came out, police arrested them.
Anyone over 12 years was arrested by police.
The prisoners have been taken to an unspecified location. Family members have been kept in the dark on their whereabouts.
Family members say they feel helpless as no Human rights organisation or civil society groups have stepped forward to address the mass arrests.
When friends and relatives of the arrested men went to the police station, the officials appeared cold and uncooperative. They said that the arrested prisoners were being interrogated, as they had no legal status in this country. They however refused to divulge their current whereabouts.
While India is a haven for refugees fleeing conflict in neighbouring countries of Burma, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and China, many refugees have no legal status thus creating an uncertain future for them.
India is home to 20,000-25,000 Burmese Muslim refugees, according to local media.
source : Burmatimes
