The Haryana Police has arrested several Rohingya refugees in connection with the recent communal violence in Nuh district. Narender Bijarniya, Nuh superintendent of police, said Rohingya refugees had illegally occupied the land of Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran in Tauru due to which the demolition drive was carried out but some of them have also been identified for pelting stones and being part of the mob on July 31 violence.
Rohingya refugees after shanties located in Nuh’s Tauru area were bulldozed on Thursday by the administration following the Nuh communal violence. (Leena Dhankhar/HT Photo)
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“We have identified a list of them who were involved in the violence and we have evidence for it and based on it the teams have arrested them,” he told HT.
Sabber Kyaw Min, founder and director of Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (an NGO that works for the betterment of the community) said most refugees in these camps work as rickshaw pullers, ragpickers, and vegetable sellers.
“The FRRO officers had informed at the refugee camp that they had a list of at least 17 refugees and had picked some of them who were identified by them for their involvement in the violence,” he said.
Min said the surprise demolition with heavily armed forces started on Thursday and the refugees were thrown out of their space. The community fear arbitrary detention as some of them were asked to appear before a special branch of the police.
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Min added that if any refugee is involved in illegal activities, the NGO will assist the police, but conducting such raids makes them feel unsafe and harassed. “This is an unfair practice and act of discrimination against them. The situation at the camps is grim and people live in fear. They are being treated as if they are dacoits or criminals. They are trying to make their ends meet,” he claimed.
Who are Rohingya?
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Min added that if any refugee is involved in illegal activities, the NGO will assist the police, but conducting such raids makes them feel unsafe and harassed. “This is an unfair practice and act of discrimination against them. The situation at the camps is grim and people live in fear. They are being treated as if they are dacoits or criminals. They are trying to make their ends meet,” he claimed.
Who are Rohingya?
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Rohingya are predominantly Muslim refugees from Myanmar who fled their homeland following the targeted violence against the community by the government in 2017.
There are about 16,000 UNHCR-certified Rohingya refugees in India. The government estimate puts the figure of Rohingya refugees living in India beyond 40,000 with maximum concentration in and around Jammu.
Rohingya shanties bulldozed
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On Thursday, shanties in Rohingya camps located in Nuh’s Tauru area were bulldozed, local police said, adding they had identified suspects among Rohingya refugees who were allegedly involved in July 31 violence in the area.
Over 50 illegal properties occupied by the Rohingyas were identified across Nuh, Prashant Pawar, Nuh deputy commissioner said, adding that the demolition drive was carried out by relevant agencies and police provided manpower and security.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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Home/India News/Nuh violence: Several Rohingya refugees arrested; police say ‘we have evidence’
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