Key Developments in the Deportation Drive
- India has deported more than 1,600 people since May, according to Bangladeshi officials.
- Many deportees report being forced across the border at gunpoint, often at night and through dangerous terrain.
- No formal hearings or documentation were provided to those expelled.
- Indian officials claim those targeted were undocumented migrants, though many have shown proof of Indian citizenship.
“You cannot deport people unless there is a country to accept them,” said civil rights lawyer Sanjay Hegde. “Indian law does not allow for people to be deported without due process.”
Voices from the Border: First-Hand Accounts
- Rahima Begum, from Assam, was detained and pushed into Bangladeshi territory with five other Muslims. “They told us to crawl or be shot,” she recalled.
“We thought: ‘This is the end. We are all going to die.’”
She was later returned to India—but only with a stern warning to stay silent. - Nazimuddin Mondal, a mason from West Bengal, was arrested in Mumbai, flown to Tripura, and pushed across the border. “I showed them my government ID, but they just wouldn’t listen,” he said.
Widening Security Crackdown After Kashmir Attack
India’s intensified security operations followed a deadly attack in Kashmir on April 22, where 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, were killed. Though New Delhi blamed Pakistan, the response quickly broadened into a nationwide crackdown, disproportionately affecting Muslims and Bengali speakers.
- Over 6,500 detentions reported in Gujarat alone.
- Most deportations occurred in Assam, Tripura, and West Bengal—regions with large Bengali-speaking Muslim populations.
Critics Say Deportations Are Driven by Ideology
Human rights advocates say the campaign fits a broader pattern under the Hindu nationalist BJP government.
“Muslims, particularly from the east, are terrified,” said rights activist Harsh Mander.
“People of Muslim identity who happen to be Bengali-speaking are being targeted as part of an ideological hate campaign.”
Bangladesh has also pushed back, confirming that some deportees were Indian citizens, and has returned at least 100 people.
Legal and Diplomatic Implications
- No legal basis: Experts stress that deportations without bilateral agreements or legal proceedings are illegal under both Indian and international law.
- Strained relations: Ties between New Delhi and Dhaka have worsened since Bangladesh’s 2024 political upheaval.
India has faced similar criticism in the past, notably for forcibly returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
Visual Suggestions:
- Map: Deportation routes from Indian states to Bangladesh
- Infographic: Timeline of deportation cases and official responses
- Photo Essay: Detained migrants at Indian-Bangladeshi border
- Quote Card: “Crawl or we’ll shoot”—First-hand account
