BSF hands over 31 stranded Rohingyas to Tripura police

New Delhi/Agartala: After a blamegame reportedly broke out between the Border Security Force (BSF) and its Bangladeshi counterpart — Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) — with the two sides accusing each other of pushing Rohingyas into their territories. India on Tuesday said it was “not a party” to movement of Rohingyas (originally from Myanmar) from India to Bangladesh.

New Delhi also said that food and shelter are being provided to 31 Rohingyas who are stranded on the India-Bangladesh border even as their documentation is being checked. New Delhi said the matter would be handled with “neighbours” through “mutual consultations”.

The BSF on Tuesday, meanwhile, handed over the 31 Rohingya Muslims, who were stranded on the India-Bangladesh border since January 18, to the Tripura police, after the paramilitary force and its Bangladeshi counterpart, the BGB, failed to reach a decision during talks on the issue, according to reports from  Agartala.

The Rohingya Muslims hail from the troubled Rakhine state in Myanmar which was hit by communal violence earlier.

In a statement, the MEA said, “The government is aware of the presence of 31 persons originally from Rakhine State in Myanmar, currently at the Zero Line on the India-Bangladesh border. While their documentation and claims are being examined, necessary shelter, food and material are being provided to them by forces guarding the Indian border. Governm-ent is aware of media reports of alleged movement into Bangladesh by some such persons. Government is not a party to such movements. We will work with our neighbours to handle such matters through mutual consultation.”