The detention triggered protests and demands that police avoid detaining Indian citizens solely on linguistic or religious suspicion
NEW DELHI — Four Bengali Muslim women and two children detained in Vasai-Virar, Maharashtra, on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals were released Sunday, following intervention by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and a fresh document check by police.
The group was picked up by Vasai-Virar police despite producing documents including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and passports, according to family members. Their detention triggered protests and demands that police avoid detaining Indian citizens solely on linguistic or religious suspicion.
Senior AIMIM leader and former Maharashtra MLA Waris Pathan said his team raised the issue with senior police officers after the families approached them. Police formed a special team to re-examine the documents and verify identities, Pathan stated.
After verification, police said they found no evidence to establish that the women and children were illegal immigrants. All six were released on Sunday. Following their release, the women visited Pathan’s office in Mumbai to thank him and the AIMIM team for their support.
Pattern of Detentions
Vasai-Virar, on Mumbai’s outskirts, has seen multiple cases in recent years where Bengali-speaking migrants, mostly daily wage workers, were detained on suspicion of illegal entry from Bangladesh. Police in Thane district have carried out several document drives citing “infiltration” concerns.
Rights groups and local leaders argue that such checks disproportionately target Bengali-speaking Muslims. Because West Bengal shares a 2,216-km border with Bangladesh and Bengali is the dominant language on both sides, critics say language and surname often become the basis for suspicion.
Legal experts note that under Indian law, Aadhaar, PAN, and a passport are valid proof of identity and citizenship unless contradicted by other evidence.
The National Human Rights Commission has previously flagged “detention without due process” of Bengali migrants in different states.
The issue of alleged Bangladeshi infiltration is periodically raised by political parties across states. However, government data shows that establishing illegal nationality requires verification through the Foreigners Tribunals process, not summary detention.
Police officials in Vasai-Virar did not issue a formal statement on the latest case. An officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said verification was done “as per procedure” after AIMIM’s representation.
