West Bengal Man Allegedly Deported to Bangladesh Amid Citizenship Claims
Incident Overview
A man from West Bengal, identified as Mehbub Sheikh, was reportedly detained by Maharashtra Police on suspicions of being an undocumented migrant from Bangladesh. This incident occurred while he was residing in Mira Road, near Mumbai, and he was subsequently pushed back into Bangladesh by the Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday.
Family's Plea and Documentation
The West Bengal government has stated that Sheikh, a 36-year-old mason, was forcibly sent to Bangladesh despite the submission of documents confirming his Indian citizenship by both the West Bengal Police and the Migrant Welfare Board.
According to his family, Sheikh had been living in Maharashtra for two years, specifically in the Mira Road area of Thane district, while they reside in Hossainnagar village in Murshidabad district.
Detention and Communication
Sheikh was taken into custody on June 11 while enjoying tea in Mira Road, as reported by his younger brother, Mujibur. He managed to contact his family from the Kanakia police station, prompting them to alert local authorities and the migrant welfare board.
By June 13, the family had provided documentation to the Maharashtra Police to validate his citizenship.
BSF Camp and Family's Concerns
On June 13, Shabbir Ahmed, the head of the Mahisasthali gram panchayat, revealed that they were informed Sheikh had been sent to a BSF camp in Siliguri, West Bengal. Despite the villagers' attempts to seek assistance, the security forces did not respond to their requests.
On June 14, Sheikh reached out to his family from Bangladesh, stating that he had been pushed into the country by the BSF around 3:30 AM.
Family's Desperation
Sheikh's brother expressed deep concern for his well-being, stating, “He has a wife and three children. We just want him back. We don’t know how long he can survive in Bangladesh.”
Police's Justification
The Maharashtra Police contended that Sheikh was unable to provide sufficient documentation to prove his citizenship, dismissing Aadhaar and PAN cards as valid evidence. Senior inspector Meghna Burade stated, “We asked him to produce his birth certificate or any strong proof, but he failed to do so.”
Lack of Communication
Samirul Islam, the head of the West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, criticized the Maharashtra authorities for not informing them about Sheikh's transfer to the BSF camp and subsequent deportation to Bangladesh.
Controversial Pushback Policy
In recent weeks, Indian authorities have been implementing a policy aimed at pushing back individuals deemed to be undocumented migrants into Bangladesh. Since the initiation of “Operation Sindoor,” over 2,000 individuals have reportedly been sent back.
The legality of this pushback policy has sparked significant debate both domestically and internationally, with experts arguing that it contravenes India's obligations under international law.