14 Bangladesh nationals declared 'foreigners' apprehended in Assam

GUWAHATI: Fourteen Bangladesh nationals recently declared "foreigners" were apprehended by police at different places in Baksa, one of the four districts of Assam that makes up the Bodoland Territorial Region, and sent to the transit camp at Matia in Goalpara district on Wednesday.

Out of the 14, nine are female and five male. Two were caught in Garbhitar village, two in Bherbheri, five in Bhakuwamari, two in Kuthurijhar, two in Alengamari and one in Raghab Bil village. Barring three of them, the rest are above 50 years of age.

They had reportedly been living in Assam for the past several decades. SP (Baksa) Ujjal Pratim Baruah said, "They were declared "foreigners" at different times by foreigners' tribunals. After an FT labels someone as a "foreigner", the next step is to apprehend them and send them to the transit camp at Matia for further course of action."

Though there is no such record of the 14 apprehended persons indulging in anti-social activities, sources said none of them could not produce any document to support their Indian citizenship.

"Several cases are pending in foreigners' tribunals. Whenever a court order is received declaring someone a "foreigner", police apprehend them and send them to the transit camp for deportation," the sources said. At present, the Matia transit camp has more than 200 "foreigners".

This includes both people declared "foreigners" by FTs in Assam as well as those convicted by judicial courts for violating visa provisions. The latter form the bulk of the detainees.