The Assam government has launched a crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, deporting 49 declared foreign nationals to the border. Chief Minister Sarma stated that actions will continue under the law.
Asam: Crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in Assam has intensified. Under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's leadership, the state government has begun taking strict action against individuals declared "declared foreigners" by Foreigners Tribunals. These individuals are being transported to the "No Man's Land" along the Assam-Bangladesh border and left there.
This government action is a major setback for illegal immigrants who have been residing in Assam for a considerable time. Approximately 49 such individuals have been deported from India. This matter has heated up the state's political and social discourse.
What is the case of the Assam dumping operation?
The Assam government has launched a comprehensive campaign to apprehend all illegal Bangladeshi immigrants declared foreigners by Foreigners Tribunals. Between May 27th and 29th, at least 49 such declared foreign nationals were apprehended from western and southern Assam and left at the India-Bangladesh border.
The government claims these individuals resided illegally in India for many years and are now facing strict legal action. Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court against this dumping operation, with family members seeking information about their relatives' whereabouts and demanding a halt to the campaign.
What does CM Himanta Biswa Sarma say?
Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has clarified that the state government is not lenient towards any illegal citizen. He stated, "In the past several years, approximately 30,000 individuals declared foreigners by Foreigners Tribunals have disappeared. We have now accelerated the process of identifying and deporting them. As soon as these individuals are apprehended, they will be left at the border. We are acting strictly within the framework of the law."
Sarma stated that there are two categories of illegal immigrants—those who recently infiltrated and those declared foreigners by the tribunals. He explained that the Supreme Court has also clarified that those declared foreigners who have not filed any appeal should be deported.
Assam Government's Strategy
Chief Minister Sarma indicated that the dumping operation will intensify in the coming days. The government is now working on a plan to apprehend all such illegal citizens and leave them at the border. However, Sarma also clarified that if an individual files an appeal in the High Court or Supreme Court, they will be allowed to remain in India.
Sarma also said, "If a stay order has been granted by the court against someone, we respect that, and they will be allowed to stay. But those who do not appeal have no right to remain in India."
Petitions and Legal Front
Several petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court against this entire campaign. The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to provide details of the whereabouts of two brothers—Abu Bakar Siddique and Akbar Ali—who were declared foreigners in 2017 and held in the Goalpara transit camp. They were released on bail in 2020 following a Supreme Court order. The petitioner claimed in court that their family members were detained by the police on May 24th and no information about their whereabouts is being provided.
