Illegal Immigrants Crackdown: Assam Police Detains Over 150 People

Guwahati: Following the instruction of the central government to the states to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants, the police in Assam have rounded up and detained about 150 people, suspected of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Informing that they have been detained for document verification from Guwahati and surrounding regions since Sunday, security sources said that the verification drive was launched a day after the centre instructed state governments and union territories to constitute Special Task Forces in every district to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants within the next 30 days.

These detentions sparked outrage and demonstrations in and around the city.

Police have launched this drive in multiple city localities, including Hatigaon, Panjabari and Ghoramara, and extended to nearby regions like Sonapur, Palashbari and Jalukbari. The detained individuals were taken to the police reserve camp at Birubari, where families gathered throughout the day, desperately seeking their release.

Pointing out that they are examining the documentation of those detained, police said, "As of now, the police are verifying all the documents. An official statement will be provided once the verification is completed.”

Security sources said that a similar drive was launched in Upper Assam’s Golaghat district and over 70 suspected citizens were detained.

Families of some of the detained citizens said that they are Indian citizens, officials added

On Saturday, nine Bangladeshis staying illegally in India were arrested in Morigaon district. All of them had been declared foreign nationals by the Foreigners Tribunals but had been evading arrest.

"The declared foreigners will be sent to the detention centre, now called a transit camp, in Goalpara after verification of their documents. The process is on," an official said.

Meanwhile, several civil society groups have welcomed the drive and announce that they would be helping police by facilitating information to the police in identifying the foreigners in their respective areas.