Rohingya man arrested during raids by Indian probe agency

By Nusrat Sidiq

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (AA) – The Indian counter-terrorism law enforcement agency on Wednesday raided Rohingya camps across the country, including in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, in an alleged human trafficking case.

The raids were conducted in eight Indian states and two Union Territories, the Press Trust of India reported, citing a spokesperson for the Indian National Investigation Agency.

“In this connection, Zaffar Alam was taken into custody from his temporary residence in the Bathindi area of Jammu (and Kashmir) around 2 a.m. (2030GMT), while another accused is on the run," the official said.

The raids, the official added, were restricted to slums housing Rohingya refugees and were conducted in connection with a case involving a violation of the Passports Act and human trafficking.

Searches were carried out in the states of Tripura, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Haryana, and Rajasthan, as well as the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry.

Earlier in July, clashes were reported between Rohingya and government forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Hira Nagar Jail over their release or repatriation to Myanmar.

Around 270 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, have been lodged in the detention center for more than two years and have been intermittently protesting against their continuous detention.