Assam sends 21 alleged Bangladeshi migrants home, children included

Assam authorities repatriated 21 alleged illegal migrants from Bangladesh, including several children, during a late-night operation in Sribhumi district on Sunday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The action was carried out around 12:30 a.m. after the group was apprehended and their documents were verified by district police. The chief minister praised the vigilance of the police force, stating that the operation reflected the government’s commitment to preventing illegal cross-border movement. Photographs released by the government showed at least seven children among those sent back.

The incident is part of Assam’s broader campaign against illegal immigration from Bangladesh , an issue that has shaped the state’s politics and society for decades.

Migration into Assam increased significantly before and after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, when thousands crossed the border in search of safety and livelihood. Concerns over demographic changes later led to the Assam Accord of 1985, which fixed March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for determining citizenship.

To address the issue, the state undertook the update of the National Register of Citizens in 2019. Nearly 19 lakh applicants were excluded from the final list and were required to approach Foreigners’ Tribunals to prove their citizenship.

Official records indicate that over one lakh people have been declared foreigners by tribunals over the years. However, only a small number have been formally deported through established diplomatic procedures. Fewer than 500 individuals have been officially repatriated so far, while many others have faced informal push-backs at border points.

At present, several thousand declared foreigners remain under detention or monitoring in Assam’s detention and transit centres. Authorities cite difficulties in confirming nationality, legal appeals, and coordination with Bangladesh as reasons for the slow pace of formal deportations.

The Assam government has maintained that strict enforcement is essential to safeguard the state’s security and cultural identity, even as rights groups continue to raise concerns over due process and the humanitarian impact, particularly on families and children.