Detained Muslim Man Released from West Bengal Jail After Being Mistaken for Illegal Immigrant

A Muslim man from Uttar Dinajpur district in West Bengal has been released from detention after being held on suspicion of being an undocumented Bangladeshi citizen. Jalil Akhtar, who was detained on June 19, secured bail on Monday and was released from jail on Tuesday, as confirmed by his cousin, Matiur Rahman.

Akhtar’s family maintains that he is a legitimate Indian citizen and that there is no basis for the police’s suspicions. They pointed out that his name has been included in the electoral rolls from both 2002 and 2026, underscoring his long-standing ties to the region. Despite this, the authorities initiated a process to deport him, claiming he had entered India without valid documentation.

Following his detention, Akhtar was held at a temporary facility in Nizampur, where all necessary biometric and deportation procedures were reportedly completed. A police report submitted to the Dalkhola court on August 1 indicated that he was handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) on July 4, with intentions to deport him. However, the police’s attempts to forcibly remove him from the country were unsuccessful.

In response to the failed deportation, the police subsequently filed a suo moto case against Akhtar under the Immigration and Foreigners Act of 2025, alleging he had entered the country without a valid passport or visa. This legal action raised concerns about the treatment of individuals suspected of illegal immigration and highlighted the complexities surrounding citizenship verification in India.

The case has sparked discussions about the procedures used to determine citizenship status in the region, especially in the aftermath of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) controversies. Many advocates for human rights have expressed concern over the potential for wrongful detentions and the lack of adequate legal protections for individuals in similar situations.

Source: scroll.in