India Escalates Deportation of Suspected Foreigners to Bangladesh

India has intensified its efforts to deport individuals it identifies as illegal immigrants to neighboring Bangladesh, sparking concerns among human rights activists. The northeastern state of Assam has already expelled 303 people out of 30,000 declared as foreigners by tribunals. Many of these individuals are long-term residents with families and property in Assam, where tensions between local Assamese speakers and Bengali-speaking communities with roots in Bangladesh have long simmered.

Activists allege that the deportations disproportionately target Muslims and that many are wrongly classified as foreigners. The Assam government, under pressure from the Supreme Court, has vowed to escalate the expulsion drive. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated, "We have to be more active and proactive to save the state."

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has acknowledged the influx of deportees and is in talks with India to address the issue. The situation remains volatile, with reports of panic among affected communities and legal challenges mounting against the arbitrary nature of the deportations.