Barpeta Superintendent of Police Sushanta Biswa Sarma said they were sent to the transit camp in compliance with the Foreigners’ Tribunal order.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The police in Assam’s Barpeta district on Monday sent 28 Bengali-speaking Muslims – 19 men and nine women – to the Matia “transit” camp after they were declared ‘non-citizens’ by the Foreigners’ Tribunal (FT).
Barpeta Superintendent of Police Sushanta Biswa Sarma said all were sent to the transit camp in the Goalpara district in compliance with the tribunal’s order.
The tribunal arrived at the decision following legal scrutiny. All those declared foreigners were residing in different parts of the district.
The police summoned them to the SP’s office, after which they were transported to the transit camp by bus under tight security arrangements.
A crowd, reportedly comprising family members and relatives, gathered outside the SP’s office. They cried and hugged the declared foreigners.
A video of the incident was shared extensively on social media platforms.
Responding to the viral video, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi pointed out the complications if the NPR-NRC is implemented nationwide. Such scenes, he said, will become a common sight.
“If NPR-NRC happens along with Census this year, these scenes of Muslims could be seen everywhere in the nation. This is why various states, including Telangana, have opposed holding NPR-NRC along with the Census,” Owaisi said, sharing the Muslim families’ video on X.
The foreigners’ tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies that deal with cases of suspected foreigners. Assam has over 100 such tribunals.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 64 crore, the Matia transit camp was initially a detention centre. It was renamed a transit camp to give it a more humane touch. The facility can house 3,000 people.