28 Bengali Muslims in northeastern India detained as ‘Declared Foreigners,’ sent to transit camp
by Aditi VermaIn northeastern India’s Assam, 28 Bengali Muslims were detained and sent to a transit camp on Monday after being declared as foreigners by the Foreigner Tribunals.
The incident took place in the Barpeta district on September 2.
Visuals showed the scene was tense and emotional as family members and relatives of the detained Bengali Muslims wept uncontrollably while their loved ones were being forced onto a police bus. Their faces showed deep distress, reflecting the fear and uncertainty of the situation. A crowd had gathered in the area, drawn by the commotion, with many looking on in concern and confusion. The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow and anxiety, as the bus prepared to depart amidst the cries of those left behind.
At least 28 Bengali Muslims in Assam’s Barpeta district have been detained and sent to a foreigner transit camp in Goalpara district, about 50 km away. These individuals were declared as foreigners by the Foreigner Tribunals, quasi-judicial bodies established under the Foreigners Act of 1946. The detainees, one from each of the 28 families, were summoned to police stations under the pretense of signing documents before being forcibly taken to the transit camp.
The Assam Home Department recently informed the state Assembly that the state has a total of 1,19,570 D-voters, out of which 54,411 were declared foreigners by the tribunals. Since 2017, 16 such individuals have been deported to Bangladesh. The D-voters are barred from voting as per a 1997 order by the Election Commission.
The Foreigner Tribunals were established to address cases of illegal migration, a longstanding issue in Assam driven by concerns over the preservation of indigenous Assamese identity and culture. The recent detentions highlight ongoing tensions in the state over citizenship and migration.