Shona Banu, a 58-year-old woman from Assam, describes being taken by police to the India-Bangladesh border and forced to cross at gunpoint, part of a troubling pattern of alleged illegal deportations. Cases like hers raise significant concerns about citizenship rights and the treatment of individuals deemed "foreigners."
Forced Border Crossing: Indian Citizens Allegedly Pushed into Bangladesh
Forced Border Crossing: Indian Citizens Allegedly Pushed into Bangladesh
Shona Banu recounts her harrowing experience of being forcibly sent across the India-Bangladesh border by police, highlighting ongoing tensions over illegal immigration in Assam.
Article Text:
Shona Banu finds memories of her recent ordeal haunting. The 58-year-old from Barpeta district in Assam, India, was reportedly summoned to the police station on May 25, only to be taken to the border with Bangladesh alongside 13 others. They were forced to cross under threats, leaving Banu baffled about the reasoning behind this action. Although she has lived in Assam her entire life, she has been entangled in a battle to prove her citizenship status amidst accusations of being an "illegal immigrant."
"They pushed me over at gunpoint. For two days, I was stranded without food or water in a field full of mosquitoes and leeches," Banu recalled, visibly shaken. After enduring that nightmare, she ended up in what seemed to be an old prison in Bangladesh. Her fears intensified when she was eventually returned to India, with no explanation for the shocking treatment she had endured.
Banu's case is just one among several recent claims in Assam, where law enforcement has allegedly been apprehending individuals marked as "foreigners" and sending them across the border. The BBC uncovered at least six such incidents in which families stated their members were forcibly taken and deported.
Although crackdowns on perceived illegal immigrants along the 4,096 km (2,545 miles) border of India and Bangladesh are not unusual, the rapid enforcement of these acts raises significant legal and ethical concerns. Reports from authorities in Bangladesh suggest that India has deported over 1,200 individuals this past May, triggering further anxiety in northern India, particularly in Assam—an area fraught with a distinct history of migration and citizenship disputes.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs both Assam and the country, has prioritized resolving issues tied to illegal immigration, including the enforcement of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). This list is aimed at verifying the citizenship of residents in Assam, primarily focusing on those who can prove their arrival prior to March 24, 1971. Yet, subsequent iterations of the NRC have cast out nearly two million residents, leading to numerous appeals and ongoing legal battles.
Not everyone has been fortunate enough to return like Banu. Maleka Khatun, a 67-year-old woman from Assam, remains in Bangladesh, having lost hope of a swift return despite being aware of her family's contacts back home. Similar stories have emerged from Assam, where individuals contend they are being unlawfully pushed back despite maintaining official identification documents.
The Chief Minister of Assam has publicly justified these forced removals, claiming they are in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling. Lawyers involved with affected individuals challenge this claim, asserting that the necessary due process for deportation has been systematically overlooked. Ongoing legal actions aim to halt what has been termed a "forceful and illegal pushback policy."
For many, the current political climate breeds fear. Reports illustrate a worrying trend — families live in apprehension of sudden detentions, fearful that their lives could be disrupted without warning. As the community navigates the treacherous waters of nationality, the grim uncertainty looms large, leaving many like Banu, Khatun, and countless others wondering if their arguments for belonging will ever be recognized or upheld.
Shona Banu finds memories of her recent ordeal haunting. The 58-year-old from Barpeta district in Assam, India, was reportedly summoned to the police station on May 25, only to be taken to the border with Bangladesh alongside 13 others. They were forced to cross under threats, leaving Banu baffled about the reasoning behind this action. Although she has lived in Assam her entire life, she has been entangled in a battle to prove her citizenship status amidst accusations of being an "illegal immigrant."
"They pushed me over at gunpoint. For two days, I was stranded without food or water in a field full of mosquitoes and leeches," Banu recalled, visibly shaken. After enduring that nightmare, she ended up in what seemed to be an old prison in Bangladesh. Her fears intensified when she was eventually returned to India, with no explanation for the shocking treatment she had endured.
Banu's case is just one among several recent claims in Assam, where law enforcement has allegedly been apprehending individuals marked as "foreigners" and sending them across the border. The BBC uncovered at least six such incidents in which families stated their members were forcibly taken and deported.
Although crackdowns on perceived illegal immigrants along the 4,096 km (2,545 miles) border of India and Bangladesh are not unusual, the rapid enforcement of these acts raises significant legal and ethical concerns. Reports from authorities in Bangladesh suggest that India has deported over 1,200 individuals this past May, triggering further anxiety in northern India, particularly in Assam—an area fraught with a distinct history of migration and citizenship disputes.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs both Assam and the country, has prioritized resolving issues tied to illegal immigration, including the enforcement of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). This list is aimed at verifying the citizenship of residents in Assam, primarily focusing on those who can prove their arrival prior to March 24, 1971. Yet, subsequent iterations of the NRC have cast out nearly two million residents, leading to numerous appeals and ongoing legal battles.
Not everyone has been fortunate enough to return like Banu. Maleka Khatun, a 67-year-old woman from Assam, remains in Bangladesh, having lost hope of a swift return despite being aware of her family's contacts back home. Similar stories have emerged from Assam, where individuals contend they are being unlawfully pushed back despite maintaining official identification documents.
The Chief Minister of Assam has publicly justified these forced removals, claiming they are in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling. Lawyers involved with affected individuals challenge this claim, asserting that the necessary due process for deportation has been systematically overlooked. Ongoing legal actions aim to halt what has been termed a "forceful and illegal pushback policy."
For many, the current political climate breeds fear. Reports illustrate a worrying trend — families live in apprehension of sudden detentions, fearful that their lives could be disrupted without warning. As the community navigates the treacherous waters of nationality, the grim uncertainty looms large, leaving many like Banu, Khatun, and countless others wondering if their arguments for belonging will ever be recognized or upheld.
