Assam: 28 declared foreigners from Barpeta sent to detention camps in Goalpara

In a significant move, 28 individuals declared as foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunal in Barpeta, Assam, were sent to a detention camp in Goalpara on Monday. The group, comprising 9 women and 19 men, was escorted under heavy security amidst an emotionally charged atmosphere at the Barpeta Superintendent of Police's office.

In a culmination of a protracted legal process, the Foreigners Tribunal in Barpeta ordered the detention of 28 individuals who had been previously declared as foreigners. The operation, spearheaded by the Barpeta police, resulted in the transfer of these individuals to the detention camp located in Matia, Goalpara district. The detainees were living in various parts of Barpeta district before their relocation.

Barpeta Superintendent of Police Sushanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the execution of the tribunal’s orders, stating that the individuals had been declared as foreign nationals after extensive search operations and legal scrutiny. The police, acting on the tribunal's directive, ensured the transportation of the declared foreigners to the detention camp in Goalpara, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to identify and detain those deemed illegal immigrants in the state.

Among the 28 detainees were 9 women and 19 men, all hailing from different police station jurisdictions within Barpeta district. The women, identified as Basatan Nessa from Satrakanra No. 5 (under Baghbar Police Station), Aimona Khatun from Bardalni (under Baghbar Police Station), Ajva Khatun from Keotkushi (under Barpeta Police Station), Sabia Khatun from Barbaradi (under Barpeta Police Station), Manowara Begum from Nissanor Char (under Alopatisar Police Station), Jabeda Khatun, Sufia Khatun, and Raijan Begum from Kaljhar (under Howly Police Station), and Iatan Nessa from Khandakarpara (under Barpeta Police Station), were escorted to the detention camp.

The 19 male detainees included Keramat Miyan from Barbaradi (under Barpeta Police Station), Abdul Latif from Dabangia (under Kolgachia Police Station), Kitab Ali from Lasanga, Sirajul Haque, Ibrahim Ali from Mankachar, Hanif Ali from Raipur (under Barpeta Road Police Station), Munjor Alam, Ainal Mandal from Dumni, Shahadat Ali, Shah Ali Akand, Sonauddin from Gomariguri, Ramezuddin from Agmandiya (under Baghbar Police Station), Azmat Ali, Based Ali, Salam Ali from Khudra Bamunbari (under Sarthebari Police Station), Abdul Joynal Mir from Ganakpara (under Tarabari Police Station), Sukur Mia, Malam Mia from Tarabarichar, and Anowar Hussain from Ghugubari (under Sarbhog Police Station).

The transportation of the detainees was marked by intense emotions as families and relatives gathered outside the office of the Superintendent of Police. The scene turned heart-wrenching as family members broke down in tears, watching their loved ones being taken away in buses to the Goalpara detention camp. The security personnel had to manage the crowd to ensure the smooth execution of the tribunal’s orders.

This event is part of a broader, ongoing effort by the Assam government to identify and detain individuals deemed as foreigners under the provisions of the Foreigners Act. The state of Assam has long been a hotspot for issues related to illegal immigration, particularly from neighboring Bangladesh, leading to heightened scrutiny and numerous legal proceedings under the Foreigners Act.

The Foreigners Tribunals in Assam, established under the Foreigners (Tribunal) Order of 1964, play a crucial role in adjudicating cases of individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants. The process involves extensive investigation, legal proceedings, and, in many cases, appeals. However, once declared as foreigners by the tribunal, individuals face the possibility of detention and deportation, a process that has been both legally and emotionally challenging for many.

The detention camp at Matia in Goalpara, where these individuals were sent, is one of several such facilities in Assam designed to hold individuals who have been declared as foreigners. These camps, often criticized for their conditions, serve as temporary holding centers until the government can finalize the process of deportation or any other legal recourse available to the detainees.

The transfer of 28 individuals declared as foreigners from Barpeta to the detention camp in Goalpara marks a significant development in Assam's ongoing efforts to address illegal immigration. The operation, conducted under the supervision of Barpeta police, followed a landmark verdict by the Foreigners Tribunal, and the emotional toll on the families involved was evident as they witnessed their loved ones being taken away. This event underscores the broader and often contentious issue of illegal immigration in Assam, a matter that continues to shape the socio-political landscape of the region.