Indian Fish Trader Deported to Bangladesh Despite Valid ID Documents

A 43-year-old fish trader from Gopalpur village in Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal, has found himself embroiled in a legal and immigration controversy after being detained by local police and forcibly deported to Bangladesh. The incident has raised questions about the treatment of Indian citizens in border areas, particularly those from minority communities.

Abdul Barek, who has been living in India, was apprehended by Raiganj Police on June 2, 2023, under allegations of being an undocumented Bangladeshi immigrant. His family has vehemently refuted this claim, asserting that Barek not only possesses an Indian passport issued in 2021 but also appears on the electoral rolls following a recent voter registration exercise. They argue that these documents confirm his status as a legal resident of India.

Barek’s son, Jahidul Islam, recounted the events leading up to his father’s detention, stating that police personnel visited their home at around 3 PM for document verification. Jahidul accompanied his father with the necessary identification, and Barek was released after the police confirmed his status. However, things took a turn for the worse when Barek was summoned again by the police about two weeks later, leading to his immediate arrest.

Upon his second detention, the police apparently disregarded Barek’s legal documents, pushing him across the border into Bangladesh. This incident has sparked outrage among human rights advocates and local community leaders, who argue that it is emblematic of the broader issues faced by Muslims in West Bengal, especially in the context of the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) discussions.

Community activists are calling for a thorough investigation into the incident and are demanding that authorities rectify the situation by allowing Barek to return home. They emphasize the need for a more humane approach to immigration enforcement, one that respects the rights and identities of individuals, particularly those who are citizens of India.

Source: scroll.in