Latest news with #Bengali-speakingMuslims
DW
10 hours ago
- Politics
- DW
India's illegal expulsions to Bangladesh target Muslims: HRW – DW – 07/24/2025
A new Human Rights Watch report has found that hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims in India have been forced into neighboring Bangladesh. They told HRW that they feared for their lives if they did not comply. Indian authorities have unlawfully forced hundreds of Bengali-speeking Muslims intoBangladesh, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its latest report on Thursday, accusing the Hindu-nationalist government of targeting Muslims for political gains. At least 1,500 Muslim men, women and children were expelled across the border — some of whom were beaten up and their Indian identity papers destroyed — between May 7 and June 15, HRW said, citing Bangladeshi authorities. India's government has not released any statistics on how many people it has deported to Bangladesh as illegal immigrants. "India's ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is fuelling discrimination by arbitrarily expelling Bengali Muslims from the country, including Indian citizens," Elaine Pearson, Asia director at the NGO, said. "The Indian government is putting thousands of vulnerable people at risk in apparent pursuit of unauthorized immigrants, but their actions reflect broader discriminatory policies against Muslims," she said. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has long taken a strong stance against irregular migration. In public speeches around elections, he has often focused on immigrants from Bangladesh, calling them "infiltrators." The Ministry of Home Affairs gave states a 30-day deadline to round up undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants in May, soon after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in which Islamic extremists targeted Hindu tourists. New Delhi claims all explusions were conducted to reverse irregular migration. The report slammed the rushed operations, saying the government's reason was "unconvincing" as it disregarded "due process rights, domestic guarantees, and international human rights standards". "The government is undercutting India's long history of providing refuge to the persecuted as it tries to generate political support," Pearson said. In May, Indian media reported that authorities forcibly detained some 40 Rohingya refugees and dropped them into international waters using navy ships. While the Supreme Court has called it a "beautifully crafted story," the Modi government is yet to publically deny the allegations. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video New York-based HRW said that while some of those deported were Bangladeshi citizens, many Indian nationals who are Bengali-speaking Muslims from states neighboring Bangladesh. This was possible because authorities carried out swift deportations without due process which includes verifying the person's citizenship before expulsion, the report said. Of those expelled, 300 people come from the eastern state of Assam, which imposed a contentious citizenship verification process. Others were Bengali-speaking Muslims who had migrated from the eastern state of West Bengal to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Odish and Delhi in search of work. The targeting of Bengali-speaking Muslims is characteristic of the Hindu-nationalist movement in India led by Modi's BJP and related fringe groups. The issue of Bangladeshi immigrantion is likely to take center stage in West Bengal— one of the few states that the BJP has failed to win — where elections are due in 2026. HRW said it interviewed over a dozen affected people and their families, including those who were returned to India after being expelled to Bangladesh. Nazimuddin Sheikh, a migrant worker from West Bengal who had been in India's financial capital Mumbai for five years, said the police raided his home, tore up his identity documents proving his Indian citizenship and flew him along with over 100 others to the Bangladesh border. "If we spoke too much, they beat us. They hit me with sticks on my back and hands. They were beating us and telling us to say we are Bangladeshi," he said. Another worker from Assam recalled his ordeal. "I walked into Bangladesh like a dead body. I thought they would kill me because they were holding guns and no one from my family would know."
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
India expulsions to Bangladesh unlawful, target Muslims: Human Rights Watch
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Police officers next to men they believe to be undocumented Bangladeshi nationals after they were detained in Ahmedabad, on April 26. NEW DELHI - India has pushed hundreds of ethnic Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh without due process, Human Rights Watch said on July 24 , accusing the government of flouting rules and fuelling bias on religious lines. The Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long taken a hardline stance on immigration – particularly those from neighbouring Muslim-majority Bangladesh – with top authorities referring to them as 'termites' and 'infiltrators'. Critics also accuse the government of sparking fear among India's estimated 200 million Muslims, especially among speakers of Bengali, a widely spoken language in both eastern India and Bangladesh. Human Rights Watch (HRW) , a New York-based non-profit, said India forcibly expelled more than 1,500 Muslim men, women, and children to Bangladesh between May 7 and June 15, quoting Bangladeshi authorities. 'India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fuelling discrimination by arbitrarily expelling Bengali Muslims from the country, including Indian citizens,' Ms Elaine Pearson, Asia director at the non-profit, said. 'The Indian government is putting thousands of vulnerable people at risk in apparent pursuit of unauthorised immigrants, but their actions reflect broader discriminatory policies against Muslims.' New Delhi insists that people deported are undocumented migrants. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump was told he is in Epstein files, Wall Street Journal reports Opinion The US dollar is down, but it has a lot going for it Singapore Judge asks prosecution for more information on Kpods in first case involving etomidate-laced vapes Singapore Singapore Oceanarium will enhance tourism while supporting sustainability: Grace Fu Singapore 5 teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore Over 1.15 million Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 have claimed SG60 vouchers Opinion Cinemas struggle in a world that cannot sit still Asia Japan PM Ishiba refutes reports of imminent resignation after surprise US trade deal However, claims by authorities that the expulsions were to manage illegal immigration were 'unconvincing', Ms Pearson added, because of 'their disregard for due process rights, domestic guarantees, and international human rights standards'. They were holding guns HRW said it had sent the report's findings and questions to the country's home ministry but had received no response. The report documented the experiences of 18 people. A 51-year-old daily wage worker told HRW that he 'walked into Bangladesh like a dead body' after India's Border Security Force (BSF) took him to the border after midnight. 'I thought they (the BSF) would kill me because they were holding guns and no one from my family would know,' the report quotes the worker as saying. Bangladesh, largely encircled by land by India, has seen relations with New Delhi turn icy since a mass uprising in 2024 toppled Dhaka's government, an ally of India. India also ramped up operations against migrants in the wake of an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April 2025 that killed 26 people, mainly Hindu tourists. New Delhi accused neighbouring Pakistan of supporting the attack, an allegation denied by Islamabad. In an unprecedented countrywide security drive, Indian authorities detained thousands, with many of them being eventually pushed across the border to Bangladesh. 'The government is undercutting India's long history of providing refuge to the persecuted as it tries to generate political support,' Ms Pearson said. India has also been accused of forcibly deporting Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, with navy ships dropping them off the coast of the war-torn nation. AFP
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Time of India
Condos feel pinch as turnout of housekeeping staff and helps falls in Gurgaon
Gurgaon: A large number of domestic helpers, car cleaners and housekeeping staff have stopped reporting to work in several upscale condominiums in the city, with employers claiming many of them have left fearing detention during the police verification drive to identify "illegals". Residents from societies along Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) and Dwarka Expressway said there has been a decline in presence of support staff over the last seven days. In several cases, workers — particularly Bengali-speaking Muslims — have packed up and left for their hometowns. The fear of detention has become so pervasive that some workers have requested financial assistance to leave, while others have ceased leaving their homes. Priyanka Srivastava, a resident of Sector 70A, said her domestic help didn't show up for the past two days. "She asked for some money, saying she is leaving the city. Our block used to have around 40 domestic helps. Now, barely 14 or 15 are reporting to work. Most of those who left were Bengali Muslims — they were terrified. " You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon In housing societies like Tulip Ivory in Sector 70, the atmosphere is similarly tense. Reeta Sharma, a resident, said her domestic help is too frightened to venture outside. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Resmed AirSense 11 with flat 20% off ResMed Buy Now Undo "She is panicking. Even though she has an Aadhaar and has been working here for years, she is afraid she will be picked up and labelled an illegal immigrant. She has stopped going to work altogether." Fear has deepened among workers living in illegal settlements, with reports of night-time detentions further stoking their anxiety. Arbeena Khatun, 25, who works as a cook in South City 2, said she is planning to leave the city. "My cousin and other relatives have already left. I will also leave soon. How can one live like this? The police are picking up anyone. Even last night, four people were taken away from our settlement. They said this is against Bangladeshis. But we are Indian. I was working in the city for 12 years," Arbeena added. With support staff missing, many condominiums are now grappling with piling up garbage mounds, dirty stairwells, and mounting chores. Sunil Sareen, RWA Vice-President of Imperial Gardens in Sector 102, said the situation has begun to affect basic services. "Waste is piling up in the society as sanitation staffers haven't turned up. Most are migrants, and they've either left or are staying away due to fear," he said.
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Arms licence portal for indigenous people as Assam evicts illegal immigrants
Assam plans to start a portal to streamline the process of granting arms licences to eligible people from indigenous communities living in areas where they are vulnerable. The portal will be inaugurated in the first week of August, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday. This comes even as the state moves to evict illegal settlers and encroachers, mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims, from occupied forest and will be a portal for people to apply for an arms licence, and it will be inaugurated between August 1 and 7. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) will conduct an enquiry, and those who meet the criteria will be granted an arms licence," Himanta said in a video. He shared the clip on on the encroachment by illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, Himanta on July 21 said that native Assamese and Hindus would become a minority in the state in 10 years if demographic changes were not checked. "Compared to 1951, the demography of Assam has reached such a stage that the Assamese and the Hindus will become a minority in 10 years. We have to revive a community facing extinction," Himanta said, adding "We have to rescue a community which otherwise will go missing." Himanta's remarks came during his visit to Gorukhuti in Assam's Darrang district, from where the government had started a massive eviction drive 4 years freeing up of encroached land by illegal immigrants, Himanta said that 29 lakh bighas still remain occupied."We've reclaimed Abighas and are working to recover more. Twenty-nine lakh bighas are still under encroachment. It's not possible for one Himanta Biswa Sarma to free all these lands in four years," the Assam chief minister was quoted as saying by The Times of has regularly highlighted the issue of illegal immigrants grabbing land and demographic change changing the character of entire portal to be inaugurated in August might be aimed at the indigenous people in districts where they are in a minority decision to issue arms licences to indigenous residents was first announced in May after a Cabinet Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi in May came down heavily on the Assam government's decision to grant arms licences to civilians residing in border and remote termed the policy "highly condemnable" and accused the ruling BJP government of promoting a strategy that prioritises weapons over the essential needs of the of Assam want water, employment, education, and medical facilities, not guns," Gogoi said in move, Sarma had stated then, was aimed at empowering indigenous communities in districts facing security challenges due to cross-border infiltration, according to a report in The Assam the districts identified for the rollout of the arms licence scheme are Dhubri, Nagaon, Morigaon, Barpeta, South Salmara and Goalpara, according to the report. All the districts have a high concentration of Muslim population.- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ten held for attack on security forces in evicted area of Paikan Reserve Forest: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday (July 18, 2025) said 10 people have been arrested in connection with an attack on security forces by alleged encroachers in Paikan Reserve Forest, which led to the death of one person and injuries to more than 20 others. He claimed that all encroachers have been cleared from the area, where an eviction drive was carried out last week. "We have already taken action. Ten people have been arrested within hours of the incident. Our action has been completed," Mr. Sarma said, addressing a press conference in Guwahati. One alleged encroacher was killed and more than 20 others, including policemen, were injured in a clash between evicted people and security personnel in Paikan Reserve Forest in Goalpara district on Thursday (July 17, 2025.) The eviction drive carried out on July 12 to clear encroachment on around 135 hectares in the Reserve Forest under Krishnai Range had affected 1,080 families, and the evicted people were mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims. The Chief Minister said Paikan is 'empty now' and added, "They won't come there again. After a point, they don't return, I know from experience." He said 40-50 families were staying in temporary shelters even after the eviction drive, with the authorities also not pushing him out immediately as they had assured him of leaving the area soon. Reiterating his accusation against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of emboldening the encroachers through his speech during his Assam visit on Wednesday (July 16, 2025), Mr. Sarma said, "People from Goalpara had come for Gandhi's meeting. Later, they went to Paikan at night and instigated the people, who attacked the forest guards and police the next day." "Police are looking into whether there was any impact of Kharge and Gandhi's provocative speeches. After all, one person died," he added. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had accompanied Rahul Gandhi during the day-long visit.
