Kolkata, Sep 2 (IANS) The Opposition Trinamool Congress has sought the intervention of West Bengal police chief Siddh Nath Gupta on Wednesday regarding the detention of a 66-year-old man in North Dinajpur district on suspicion of being an illegal Bangladeshi national.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam raised the issue in a post on X and alleged that Indian citizens were being harassed on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals.
“The alleged practice of subjecting poor Indian citizens to harassment and attempting to push them back into Bangladesh appears to be continuing. Earlier, a poor woman from Birbhum, Sunali Khatun, along with her family, was allegedly deported to Bangladesh despite having documents to prove Indian citizenship. Following questions over the action, the government was eventually compelled to bring her and others back to India. Now, another similar case has emerged from Uttar Dinajpur district,” said the Trinamool MP.
According to family members, Jalil Akhtar, who is a resident of Bagroi village under Bazargaon 2 panchayat in Dalkhola, North Dinajpur district, had been kept at various places — first at two holding centres and then a correctional home — for over 75 days on suspicion of being a Bangladeshi national.
Akhtar’s daughter, Kulsum Khatun, told media persons that a team from Dalkhola police station picked up her father from their home on June 16 on suspicion that he was a Bangladeshi national.
The family members subsequently went to the police station with documents which they claimed established Akhtar’s Indian citizenship. However, they alleged that their efforts were unsuccessful and that he was subsequently kept at two holding centres.
On July 22, the police produced Akhtar before a court in Islampur in North Dinajpur district, describing him as an illegal Bangladeshi national. Senior police officers said he had been arrested on suspicion of being a Bangladeshi national under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.
“At present, he is in judicial custody, and the matter is sub judice,” a senior police officer said.
Speaking to IANS, Islam said, “At this stage, it is imperative that the Director General of Police, West Bengal, personally looks into the matter, ensures that Jalil’s citizenship documents are properly examined, and takes appropriate steps to protect him if he is found to be an Indian citizen. The person was a voter in the 2026 electoral roll and has land documents dating back many years.”
He added, “If the allegations of unlawful detention, harassment or fabrication of a case are found to be true, appropriate action should also be taken against those responsible. We are with the family to provide legal support to them. We will see an end to such atrocities on poor people.”
Responding to the issue, BJP spokesperson Shatorupa told IANS that there was no place for Bangladeshi infiltrators in West Bengal.
The BJP leader alleged that during the tenure of the previous government led by Mamata Banerjee, the then ruling Trinamool Congress had invited infiltrators into the state and facilitated them with documents and certificates.
“The new BJP government will not do any such thing. There is no sympathy for any infiltrator. Having said that, if anyone is mistakenly detained, then there will be an inquiry. Sometimes, it takes time to complete the inquiry. It is a matter for the administration. But no illegal citizen will be allowed to live in Bengal,” said the BJP leader.
–IANS
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