Woman mistakenly sent to Bangladesh during immigration crackdown in Assam, brought back
An Assamese woman who was allegedly taken to Bangladesh by security forces was brought back to India after authorities realised their mistake.50-year-old Rahima Begum was among the detainees who were declared Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) as part of an ongoing crackdown. According to her lawyer, an FT ruled last month that Begum’s family had entered India before March 25, 1971, the cut-off date for citizenship in Assam.According to reports, on May 25, at around 4 am, the police arrived at Begum’s house and asked her to come to the police station.She was kept there the entire day. Later that night, she was taken by car to the Bangladesh border. She reported that the security forces gave her some Bangladeshi currency and told her not to return. When she crossed the border, she found herself in muddy paddy fields with knee-deep water. She was accompanied by other individuals. When they reached a village, they were driven away. Bangladeshi security personnel even assaulted them and told them to return to where they came from.Begum said they had to stand in a muddy field the entire day without access to drinking water and were not allowed to go anywhere. On Thursday evening, Indian security forces called her back and took her to Kokrajhar by vehicle, and from there to Golaghat. She had no idea what was happening to her. She had her identity documents with her. Eventually, her husband was called and asked to take her home.Advocate Lipika Deb, who is representing Begum in the Jorhat Foreigners Tribunal, a court established under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, explained that the tribunal had declared Begum a ‘post-stream’ individual — a term used for people who came to India between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, and have since lived in Assam. According to Section 6A(3) of the Citizenship Act, such individuals must register with the relevant Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 30 days. As per the law, their names are removed from the electoral roll for 10 years, but they enjoy the same rights as Indian citizens during this period. After 10 years, they are granted Indian citizenship.When the lawyer checked with the police and FRRO office in Jorhat, they discovered a clerical error in Begum's registration certificate — one digit in her registration number was incorrect. After contacting the superintendent of police and explaining the mistake, they successfully brought Begum back. Due to a verification error, she had to suffer trauma and loss.
An Assamese woman who was allegedly taken to Bangladesh by security forces was brought back to India after authorities realised their mistake.
50-year-old Rahima Begum was among the detainees who were declared Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) as part of an ongoing crackdown.
According to her lawyer, an FT ruled last month that Begum’s family had entered India before March 25, 1971, the cut-off date for citizenship in Assam.
According to reports, on May 25, at around 4 am, the police arrived at Begum’s house and asked her to come to the police station.
She was kept there the entire day. Later that night, she was taken by car to the Bangladesh border.
She reported that the security forces gave her some Bangladeshi currency and told her not to return. When she crossed the border, she found herself in muddy paddy fields with knee-deep water.
She was accompanied by other individuals. When they reached a village, they were driven away. Bangladeshi security personnel even assaulted them and told them to return to where they came from.
Begum said they had to stand in a muddy field the entire day without access to drinking water and were not allowed to go anywhere.
On Thursday evening, Indian security forces called her back and took her to Kokrajhar by vehicle, and from there to Golaghat. She had no idea what was happening to her. She had her identity documents with her. Eventually, her husband was called and asked to take her home.
Advocate Lipika Deb, who is representing Begum in the Jorhat Foreigners Tribunal, a court established under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, explained that the tribunal had declared Begum a ‘post-stream’ individual — a term used for people who came to India between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, and have since lived in Assam.
According to Section 6A(3) of the Citizenship Act, such individuals must register with the relevant Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 30 days. As per the law, their names are removed from the electoral roll for 10 years, but they enjoy the same rights as Indian citizens during this period. After 10 years, they are granted Indian citizenship.
When the lawyer checked with the police and FRRO office in Jorhat, they discovered a clerical error in Begum's registration certificate — one digit in her registration number was incorrect.
After contacting the superintendent of police and explaining the mistake, they successfully brought Begum back. Due to a verification error, she had to suffer trauma and loss.
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