Cops detain 150 in action against illegal immigrants
G
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uwahati: Around 150 people, suspected of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, were detained for document verification from Guwahati and surrounding regions on Sunday.
These detentions sparked outrage and demonstrations in and around the city.
The development came days after the centre instructed state govts 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.
The crackdown spanned 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.
Police sources said they were examining the documentation of those detained, adding that clarity is expected soon. "As of now, the police are verifying all the documents. An official statement will be provided once the verification is completed," the source added.
At Birubari reserve, relatives of detainees arrived with documents, demanding information. Many were overcome with distress. "They picked up my brother without any prior notice. What was his fault? We have been living at Hatigaon for the last three to four decades and have all valid Indian documents," said a woman, on condition of anonymity.
She added that police said people were detained as per orders from higher authorities.
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"This is unlawful and unacceptable," she said.
While an official statement is yet to be issued, police sources said the detentions could be connected to identification of D-voters — individuals whose citizenship status requires review by the Election Commission.
Meanwhile, Abdul Sattar of Sonapur stood outside the police reserve with a voter list from 1971, where his forefather's name is listed, and land documents. He sought his nephew's release, claiming that they are indigenous Muslims and have no connection with Bangladesh. He urged the govt and the police not to harass indigenous people in the name of a crackdown against illegal Bangladeshi people.
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