Khairul Islam, a government school teacher from Assam’s Morigaon district, has alleged that Indian authorities forcibly pushed him into Bangladesh, despite being born in India and having a case pending in the Supreme Court.
Indian border forces allegedly pushed Khairul Islam and 13 others into Bangladesh territory early Monday morning, according to the teacher himself. Currently, they are stranded in no man’s land between the two countries, Islam told Bangladeshi media.
A video circulating on social media shows Islam standing in an open field, reportedly in Kurigram district of Bangladesh. In the footage, he says, “I told Assam Police that I am a teacher and should be treated with respect. But they tied my hands like a thief and forced me into a bus. Around 4:00 AM, I was dumped here. A total of 14 of us were pushed in by the BSF.”
Islam was employed at the Thengsali Khandapukhuri Primary School until December 2023. His troubles began in 2016, when a Foreigners’ Tribunal declared him a non-citizen. The decision was upheld by the Gauhati High Court in 2018. He was detained at the Matia Detention Centre for two years before being released on bail in August 2020.
Despite his appeal pending in the Supreme Court of India—where the last hearing was held on December 17, 2023—he was picked up again by Assam Police from his home on May 23 and returned to the detention center. Just three days later, he was allegedly deported without any formal repatriation process.
Khairul Islam asserts his Indian identity, stating, “I was born in India. My parents were born here. I studied in Assamese schools. Still, they declared me a foreigner unjustly. I’ve told them a hundred times—I’m Assamese.”
A source from the Matia detention facility, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that several detainees were blindfolded and loaded into three buses under heavy security on Monday. Islam also claimed he was beaten when he refused to board the vehicle voluntarily.
Speaking to Bangladeshi media, his wife, Rita Khatun, questioned the legality of the move: “How can they do this while the case is still pending in the Supreme Court?”
Foreigners’ Tribunals in Assam, tasked with identifying undocumented migrants, have long faced criticism for arbitrary decisions and procedural lapses. Allegations include declaring individuals as foreigners due to minor clerical errors, lack of documents, or memory lapses during testimony.
The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about the treatment of alleged non-citizens in India and the due process involved in deportation cases.
LND/BG
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