Rohingya refugees seek protection from history-sheeter who killed 22-year-old over mobile phone in Hyderabad

Meanwhile, the police resorted to a lathi charge in a bid to disperse the protestors who reached the site after the deceased man’s last rites.

“We were just demanding proper action. But instead of showing sympathy, the cops dealt physically with us,” said Adil.

Earlier in the day, the Rachakonda police arrested the accused Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Qayyum.

After a refugee from #Myanmar belonging to the #Rohingya community was murdered by two people including an alleged history-sheeter in #Hyderabad, the community held a protest outside the @RefugeesMedia office.

The @MBTparty 's @amjedmbt expressed shock over the @hydcitypolice… pic.twitter.com/xjz312d32o

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) January 30, 2024

Also read: Rohingyas live in fear of evacuation in Hyderabad camp

Rohingyas protest over murder

The Balapur police said the 22-year-old deceased, identified as Ibrahim, arrived in India with his family in 2017.

Just like other Rohingyas, he was registered as a refugee with the UNHRC. He used to earn a living through a scrap business in the HITEC city area of Hyderabad.

“Around four to five days ago, he borrowed a phone from Asif, who was asking him to pay ₹2,000,” said Adil.

Most of the Rohingya men are engaged in scrap work in Hyderabad. (Ajay Tomar/South First)

“On Sunday, Asif repeatedly called him and demanded that he pay the sum. First, his brother took the call but Asif insisted on talking to Ibrahim. After talking to him he said he would come to his house to collect the due amount,” Adil said.

The deceased was a resident of Wadi-e-Shaheen in the Shaheen Nagar area of Hyderabad.

When Asif reached Ibrahim’s house along with Qayyum and confronted him around 3.30 pm, an altercation started.

“Ibrahim told him that he could only pay ₹500 at that moment and rest later. But Asif did not listen to him. He first hit him with a cement kundi (flower pot) in front of his residence and then stabbed him repeatedly with a knife in the stomach,” Adil claimed.

As per the FIR filed by the Balapur police based on the complaint of Ibrahim’s wife Rabiya Begum, which South First accessed, his brother Aslam Shahed, neighbour Mohammed Ali, and she tried to stop the accused but to no avail.

Ibrahim’s family members rushed him to Osmania General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

A case against the two accused was registered under IPC Section 302 (murder) at the Balapur Police Station.

Balapur Station House Officer (SHO) B Venkat Reddy told South First, “He has two attempted-murder cases registered against him — one in 2022 at the Balapur Police Station and another in 2023 at the Kulsumpura Police Station.”

About the growing fear in the Rohingya community, he added, “They did not approach the police beforehand in this matter, due to which we could not help them. But now the accused (Asif and Qayyum) are likely to remain behind bars for at least three months, after which the court will decide.”

MBT intervenes

Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan visited the spot on Monday and questioned the police over the history-sheeter Asif being on the loose despite being booked in “two murder, one attempted-murder and a number of other criminal cases.”

Echoing the claims of the Rohingya community members, he added: “Since many days Mohammed Asif and his associates are demanding money from this Rohingya’s and if they don’t give them money they are being attacked which resulted in murder of Mohammed Ibrahim. [sic]”

.@revanth_anumula Sir One Mohammed Ibrahim a native of Myanmar (Burma) living in Balapur since last five years was brutally murdered by Mohammed Asif and Qayyum.

Mohammed Asif is a habitual offender having past criminal record of two murder and one attempt to murder cases with… pic.twitter.com/dkV3dvVdbX

— Amjed Ullah Khan MBT (@amjedmbt) January 30, 2024

Several waves of bloodshed — most recently in 2017 — targeting their homes compelled the Rohingyas to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.

As per the UN figures, over 1 million Rohingyas have sought asylum in Bangladesh, 92,000 in Thailand, and 21,000 in India, among other countries.

When South First visited the Rohingya refugee camp at Baba Nagar, around 80 odd families were found living there in makeshift shanties, fearing they might be asked to vacate any moment.

A Rohingya camp in Hyderabad. (Ajay Tomar/South First)

Most men work as ragpickers; some were apparently trafficked by the kabadi (ragpicker) mafia in Bangladesh when they fled Myanmar.

A few are running shops inside the camp after borrowing or sourcing goods on credit from suppliers. Other men work as daily-wage labourers, as helpers in nearby warehouses and restaurants, delivery boys for nearby shops, or driving auto-rickshaws to eke out a livelihood.

Facing a dearth of basic amenities regarding access to healthcare, education, and identity cards, they have been seeking an early intervention from the UN refugee agency.

“The cops scold us if we get Aadhaar cards issued for our children. Some of us were even put behind bars for doing so and were set free only after paying a handsome amount to the cops. Even the UNHCR is not bothered about our living conditions. We are on our own,” a man from the Rohingya settlement told South First, requesting anonymity.