The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken a significant step by filing a charge sheet against three Myanmar nationals in connection with the trafficking of Rohingya women from Bangladesh to various Indian cities, where they were forced into marriages. The accused individuals identified in the charge sheet, filed on Saturday, are Rabi Islam (alias Rabiul Islam), Shafi Alam (alias Sofi Alom), and Mohammad Usman, all permanent residents of Myanmar’s Maungdaw district.
According to an NIA spokesperson, the investigation revealed that the accused entered India illegally with the assistance of traffickers, engaging in unauthorized border crossings without valid travel documents. The trio was part of an organized network involved in illegal activities, including luring vulnerable Rohingya women from Bangladesh to India on false promises of marriage to Rohingya men. These women were subsequently sold into forced marriages across states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana, and Haryana.
Further investigation uncovered instances of document forgery, with Rabi Islam and Mohammad Usman fraudulently obtaining Aadhaar identity cards. The spokesperson highlighted that the accused used these cards to secure multiple SIM cards and open bank accounts, concealing their true identities.
In November, the NIA conducted raids as part of dismantling a major international human trafficking network, resulting in 44 middlemen being arrested in 55 locations. The agency has registered four cases to probe a larger nexus involved in illegal immigration, indicating plans to seek assistance from Bangladeshi authorities to identify key players on the other side of the border.
The Indian government has consistently emphasized the national security threat posed by illegal immigrants, including Rohingyas. In a 2017 affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Union home ministry stated that the Rohingyas’ illegal immigration and continued stay have serious national security implications. The affidavit estimated around 40,000 Rohingyas in India and expressed concerns about their alleged links with Pakistan-based terror organizations, involvement in anti-national activities, mobilization of funds through hawala channels, and engagement in human trafficking.
India, not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, rejects the UN’s position on deporting Rohingyas, citing the potential persecution they could face upon return.
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