Centre says Rohingyas are security threat, Delhi Police disagrees

In an affidavit filed by the Union Home Ministry in the Supreme Court in support of deportation of 40,000 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, Centre had claimed “Rohingyas are (a) serious security threat” and alleged that they had links with Pakistan-based terror groups and ISIS. But Delhi Police, which is under the Union Home Ministry, feels that the 1000-odd Rohingya refugees living in Delhi-NCR are not a security threat to India’s National Capital, National Herald has found out.

As per the government and media reports, there are around 800 to 1,000 Rohingyas living in the National Capital, mainly in Shaheen Bagh, Kalindi Kunj, Khajuri Khas and Vikaspuri. Some others live in camps in Madanpur Khadar, Kanchan Kunj and Sarita Vihar. Most of the area falls under the jurisdiction of Jamia Nagar and Jaitpur police stations.

Till date, not a single criminal case has been registered against them in any of the two police stations. The police told National Herald that even disputes within themselves have never reached the police stations.

Station House Officer (SHO) of Jamia Nagar Police Station, Sanjeev Kumar, said, “We have neither received any complaint nor registered any case against Rohingya since they started living here in our jurisdiction. They belong to the labour class and live peacefully.”

“We, however, conduct monthly inspections in their respective camps and also check their identity cards, but we have not found anyone indulging in any criminal activity so far,” he added.

Speaking to National Herald, Rohingya activist Mohammad Farooq, who lives in Shaheen Bagh, said, “We have nothing to do with terrorism. We are victims of terrorism. We only want to live peacefully, nothing more.”

A senior officer of the Jaitpur Police Station claimed that his station had never been approached by anyone to file a complaint against any Rohingya for any misconduct. He said, “They sort out their personal disputes themselves, they never come to the police station. Whenever we visit their camps for routine inspection, they cooperate.”

A 20-year-old Rohingya student, who did not want to be identified, said, “Despite all odds, plight and poverty, we have never gone on the wrong path as we believe in peaceful existence.”