63 Assamese Muslims Face Deportation Threat Amid Denials of Bangladeshi Claims

Over 63 Assamese Muslims held in detention centers are facing deportation, with families strongly denying government claims that they are Bangladeshis, Muslim Mirror reported. Following an affidavit from the Assam government labeling the detainees as foreign nationals, the court criticized the government’s failure to deport them, citing a lack of provided addresses in Bangladesh.

The detainees, currently held at the Matia detention center in Goalpara district, assert their Indian nationality, with many having homes and families in India. Among the 63, 20 have challenged their deportation in court, including cases reaching the Supreme Court. Reports indicate that several of the detainees were listed in voter rolls and the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) in 2019.

Families argue that if they were indeed Bangladeshis, their inclusion in the NRC and voter lists would be inexplicable. Some detainees are elderly, and families are struggling to secure legal representation, with many unable to afford lawyer fees as they fight for their loved ones’ futures.