Imphal: India on Thursday deported to Myanmar seven Rohingya immigrants, who have been staying in Assam illegally since 2012, on their “willingness”, constituting the first batch of such immigrants to be sent back to their homes.
The immigrants were handed over to Myanmar authorities in the afternoon at Moreh border post. They had entered Assam illegally and were detected and arrested in 2012. They served three months in detention in Cachar Central Jail and were subsequently lodged in a detention centre at Silchar.
Assistant Commandant Sudashu Kumar, posted with the paramilitary force in Assam, brought the immigrants to Moreh in Manipur and handed them over to Aung Myo, Deputy Director of Immigration in Myanmar, after completion of formalities.
“Upon reconfirming their willingness to be repatriated (on October 3, 2018), and with the full concurrence of the Government of Myanmar, in accordance with established procedures and laws, the Government of Assam has arranged for the repatriation of these seven individuals to Myanmar,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
Kumar said the seven individuals from Rakhine State in Myanmar had been detained in 2012 for violation of the Foreigners Act and that the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Cachar at Silchar, Assam, had awarded a three-month sentence for this offence and ordered their detention pending repatriation.
In accordance with established procedures and with the assistance of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Myanmar Embassy was able to establish the identity of these individuals as residents of that country, said Kumar. — IANS
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