Baby Chakraborty | KalimNews | June 13, 2025 | Kolkata : Eleven individuals suspected of being Bangladeshi nationals were detained by police in the Kalainchara area on the Assam-Meghalaya border after local residents reported unfamiliar persons in the vicinity. The incident occurred on the morning of June 11, when residents noticed the group moving along a local road and promptly alerted authorities.

Responding to the call, Sub-Inspector Nakibuzzaman Laskar from Gumra Investigation Centre reached the scene and detained the individuals. They were later taken to Silchar Sadar Police Station for questioning. Preliminary investigations suggest that the group may have entered Indian territory irregularly from Bangladesh, allegedly with the assistance of brokers. Reports indicate that they had been working in various parts of India for several months and were attempting to return to Bangladesh when apprehended.

This incident comes amid intensified efforts by Indian authorities to identify and deport individuals deemed to be residing illegally in the country. According to official sources, since early May, the state of Assam has repatriated over 300 people to Bangladesh out of approximately 30,000 declared as foreigners by various tribunals over the years. These actions are part of a broader national campaign that began on May 7, involving detentions across several states including Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, and Rajasthan.

The campaign has led to the transportation of detainees to border states such as Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya. Once there, individuals are transferred to the Border Security Force (BSF) for repatriation procedures. Authorities have cited national security concerns, including recent events in Kashmir, as a key motivator behind the renewed urgency.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that nearly 1,000 individuals believed to be from Bangladesh have been detained in recent months. He confirmed that 303 had been repatriated, and that the state is operating in alignment with directives issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A key component of the ongoing drive is the Foreigners Identification Portal, a centralised biometric and demographic database that facilitates coordination between state governments, the Ministry of External Affairs, and law enforcement agencies. The portal, initially developed in 2018 to monitor refugee flows from Myanmar, has since been expanded to support the identification and verification of undocumented foreign nationals.

All applicants for essential documents, such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and voter IDs, are now being cross-verified against this database. Authorities have been directed to complete status verification of suspected undocumented individuals within 30 days.

The campaign has also extended to include persons with court-granted temporary protection from deportation. In certain instances, individuals who had received stays from the Supreme Court or High Courts have reportedly been repatriated, though some have been readmitted to India through diplomatic channels. State officials have cited the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling upholding Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, as a legal basis for expediting action without waiting for Foreigners Tribunal proceedings.

Section 6A applies specifically to those who entered Assam between 1966 and 1971, allowing them to apply for citizenship. However, this provision remains contentious among local communities concerned about demographic and resource pressures.

The Foreigners Tribunals, tasked with determining the citizenship status of suspected individuals, have faced scrutiny for procedural shortcomings. In one widely discussed case, a tribunal erroneously declared a lifelong Indian resident a foreigner, leading to a prolonged legal battle that was only resolved posthumously by the Supreme Court, which called the decision a serious miscarriage of justice.

Bangladesh has formally raised concerns over the deportation measures. On May 8, a diplomatic protest was lodged with India, and officials in Dhaka have indicated that further notes are being prepared. Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, emphasized the need for legal and diplomatic resolution, stating that while his country is monitoring the developments, unilateral actions are not sustainable.

Indian authorities maintain that verification delays from Dhaka have slowed the deportation of more than 2,300 individuals awaiting repatriation, some of whom have been in custody since 2020.

In addition to Assam, detentions have been reported in other regions. In Delhi alone, 66 suspected undocumented individuals were detained recently, according to official sources quoted by PTI.

As the national campaign continues, observers and human rights groups have urged the Indian government to ensure that all actions comply with constitutional protections, due process, and international humanitarian norms.