Rights groups say the planned detention centres and police checks are creating fear among Indian Muslims and may unfairly target them
NEW DELHI — A major debate has begun in Uttar Pradesh over the government’s move to build large detention centres, with rapid inspections taking place in Bareilly and a detailed model of a new centre already prepared in Lucknow. Human rights groups say the entire exercise is creating fear among Muslims, who worry that genuine citizens may also end up being harassed under the name of checking illegal immigrants.
A divisional-level demo model of a detention centre in Lucknow has been completed and sent to the state government. According to officials, the centre would hold up to 15,000 people and include strict security checks. The model shows a biometric entry system, CCTV cameras and a three-layer security clearance for anyone entering the building.
An official involved in the planning said, “Only officers will be allowed inside. Face recognition, thumb scanning and approval from the control room will be needed at every step.”
The proposal also suggests that 50 Central Security Force personnel may be deployed. Men and women would stay in the same compound but in separate sections.
However, rights groups say the entire plan raises worrying questions. Many activists believe such centres could be used to target Muslims.
Rehana Siddiqui, a Lucknow-based rights campaigner, told Clarion India, “We fear this is not just about illegal immigration. The timing and the secrecy make Muslims feel that they are being watched, doubted and singled out.”
She added, “People are scared. We have seen what happened in other states after similar steps. Why is the government moving so fast without any public discussion?”
While the detention centre model is being examined by the Home Department, the district administration in Bareilly has intensified checks in slums and temporary settlements. On Saturday, DM Avinash Singh and SSP Anurag Arya visited University Road and questioned residents about their documents and identity proofs.
DM Singh said, “Illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators are a serious threat to national security. Our checks will continue across the district.”
Teams of magistrates, COs and police station in-charges have been instructed to conduct regular inspections at hotels, roadside eateries and other crowded places. But many local Muslim families say they feel they are being treated like suspects in their own country.
A Bareilly resident, who requested anonymity out of fear, said, “We are born here, our parents are buried here. But the way officers come to our homes and ask questions makes us feel like strangers in our own land.”
Another resident remarked, “If the target is only outsiders, then why are local citizens being frightened? People cannot sleep at night.”
Activists say the combination of mass raids and the speed of the detention centre planning has led many Muslims to believe that something larger is being prepared.
Rights lawyer Arshad Warsi stated, “The question many are asking is simple: who will the state eventually send to these centres? The government should make its list and criteria public instead of creating an atmosphere of doubt.”
He added, “Indian Muslims feel they are being pushed into a corner. If the government has nothing to hide, why is everything being done so quietly?”
Officials argue that the centres are needed to deal with foreign nationals staying illegally. The Home Department is currently checking the security and technical aspects of the Lucknow model. If approved, such detention centres could be set up in all 17 municipalities of Uttar Pradesh. Areas with more suspected cases may even get multiple centres.
But Muslim groups insist the state must show transparency.
Maulana Javed of Bareilly said, “No one is against action on illegal immigrants. But the fear is that our own people will be caught in this net. The government must protect citizens, not frighten them.”
He added, “We want the chief minister to give a clear statement that Indian Muslims will not be harassed.”
As the government moves ahead, the tension on the ground continues to rise. For many Muslim families, the sudden checks, the detailed detention centre plan and the lack of public communication have created a sense of deep worry about what comes next.
