Settlement of Rohingya in Assam is result of vested interest by few: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati, February 22, 2019:

State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday informed that an influx of 75 Rohingya refugees has been identified by the security forces here in Assam since 2009.

He also informed that altogether 19 cases have been registered in the state against posting anti-national comments on Facebook and other social media platform which is an indication of rising Maulabadi sentiments.

Addressing the media, Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that among the identified 75 Rohingya refugees, few are in custody at the detention camps of Silchar, Goalpara, Tezpur, etc. while some have been sent back to the country.

According to Sarma’s statement, the first Rohingya infiltration case was registered on September 22, 2009, at Paltan Bazaar in Guwahati.

The Minister said, “In the last three months, there has been a drastic rise in cases of the illegal infiltration from the different borders of the state. Many have travelled from the Telangana, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir. Sahil Educational Society, an NGO has been collaborating with some organizations, sympathisers for them to settle down here.” He added, “This is a result of the involvement of some vested interest of some group of people.”

Sarma also said that the country does not recognise any United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHER) unless they are being certified by the MHA.