In a significant move by Assam police, 28 Bengali-speaking Muslims were deported to a detention center in Matia, Goalpara district, on Monday, September 2, after being declared ‘noncitizens’ by the Foreigners’ Tribunal (FT). The group, consisting of 19 men and nine women, was transported following a summons by the Barpeta superintendent of police, where they were informed of their foreigner status before being sent to the detention camp.
Family members, some of whom were not declared foreigners, tearfully bid goodbye as their loved ones were taken away. A video of the emotional farewell has circulated widely on social media.
The Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs), established under the Foreigners’ (Tribunal) Order of 1964, are quasi-judicial bodies tasked with determining the citizenship status of individuals suspected to be ‘foreigners’. Assam currently operates 100 FTs to handle cases of ‘D (doubtful) voters’ and alleged illegal immigrants.
Reacting to the viral video, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi warned that such scenes could become common across the nation if the NPR-NRC is implemented nationwide, urging opposition to the process. Owaisi highlighted that states like Telangana have resisted the NPR-NRC being conducted alongside the Census.
