IN A fresh incident, a family of three, including their minor son, was detained in Delhi as “illegal Bangladeshis” and then finally “pushed into the neighbouring country,” their relatives said. The relatives claimed that the family hails from Birbhum in West Bengal.
A senior police officer in Delhi said that Danish Sheikh, his wife Sunali Khatun and their minor son have “all been deported to Bangladesh after proper verification”.
This comes close on the heels of such detentions in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh.
Recently, a total of seven persons, hailing from West Bengal, were detained by the Mumbai police and pushed into Bangladesh by BSF at 3:30 am on June 14. Apart from four youths in Murshidabad, one from Purba Bardhaman, a husband–wife duo from North 24 Parganas district was brought back from Bangladesh after Bengal government’s intervention.
After intervention by the TMC government in Bengal, the individuals were brought back and sent to their homes.
“They all have been deported to Bangladesh on June 26 after proper verification at the local police level first and after that a thorough interrogation by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office office. They hail from Bagerhat, Bangladesh,” said Rajeev Ranjan, DCP (Rohini).
“This cannot be tolerated. This is happening every day. Despite showing all proof, including land records, this has happened,” claimed Samirul Islam, chairman of the migrant labour welfare board and Rajya Sabha MP.
“Our government has intervened, but the administration in BJP-ruled states and in Delhi are not paying heed. We will move to court on Monday and appeal to the court to produce them before the judge. Is it a fault to speak in Bengali outside Bengal?” claimed Islam.
According to the family members, Sheikh, his wife Sunali and their minor son were picked up by the police and taken to a police station in Delhi.
The family members claimed they (Sheikh and his wife) belong to Paikar village under Muraroi police station limits in Birbhum district.
“They are migrant labourers who have been working as ragpickers in Delhi for the last 20 years. They were picked up by the police on July 18. All documents, including land deeds, were provided to the police. But they didn’t budge,” said Roshni Bibi, a cousin of Sunali, speaking to The Indian Express over phone from Delhi.
“Their second child, a girl, was not detained as she was with a relative in another place. We did not know what happened to the family until they called us from Bangladesh. They said someone has given them shelter there but could not specify the location,” said Roshni Bibi.
“They worked for several years in Delhi as ragpickers. Like most migrant workers, they visit their native village during festivities. They visited here and left for Delhi just one-and-a-half months ago,” said Rocky Sheikh, a cousin of Sunali and a resident of Birbhum.