Former Teacher Detained in Assam Returns Home Amid Controversy

Return of Khairul Islam

Morigaon, May 31: A former educator, Khairul Islam, who was apprehended by Assam Police on allegations of being an illegal immigrant and reportedly deported to Bangladesh, has returned to his residence in Morigaon district on Saturday, according to police officials.

Islam, along with eight others, was detained from various locations in the district on May 24, but his family reported that they were not informed about his location.

Family members claimed to have seen a video that allegedly showed him being taken to Bangladesh, asserting that he was "shot at" near the India-Bangladesh border in South Salmara Mankachar district.

On Saturday morning, police reportedly returned Islam to his family.

An officer from the Assam Border Police confirmed that a medical examination was performed, and he was deemed physically healthy.

However, the officer did not provide specifics regarding the location of his detention.

The other eight individuals detained alongside Islam have been moved to a detention facility in Matia, Goalpara district, as stated by the police.

Their families mentioned that appeals regarding their cases are currently pending in either the Supreme Court or the Gauhati High Court.

Islam's wife, Rita Khanam, stated on Friday that her husband is a law-abiding citizen and a former school teacher.

She recounted that police visited their home at night, took him away for questioning, and assured the family he would return, but they received no updates until the video emerged.

In 2016, Islam and his three siblings were declared foreigners by the Foreigner Tribunals, a decision he contested in the Gauhati High Court, which upheld the ruling, leading to his detention in 2018.

He was released in 2020 following a Supreme Court directive to free detainees who had been held for over two years.

Khanam noted that her husband's appeal against the tribunal's decision is still pending in the Supreme Court.

Islam's mother, Jahanara, previously served as a member of the village panchayat, and the entire family participated in the recent rural elections, according to their claims.

Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized that the identification of foreigners in the state will be accelerated, and legal actions against Declared Foreign Nationals (DFN) will be enforced.

He mentioned that individuals declared foreigners by the Tribunal have the option to appeal to the High Court.

For those claiming pending appeals in higher courts, no action will be taken; however, those who have not appealed will face deportation, he stated.

The Chief Minister highlighted that if a person does not challenge their designation as a foreign national in court, they forfeit their right to remain in Assam.