Assam deported 3,100 foreigners since 2001, says Sarma

Assam has deported 3,100 people declared as foreigners by tribunals since 2001. 224 non-citizens currently housed at a transit camp in Goalpara. 1,31,649 people identified as foreigners by FTs. Highest rate of deportation in 2001, lowest in 2018. Steps taken according to Foreigners Act, FT Order & Centre notifications. Detection & deportation of foreigners ongoing. 19.06 lakh people left out of NRC draft. Govt. spent ₹35,43,750 on transit camp since Jan. 27.

GUWAHATI

A total of 3,100 people declared and convicted as foreigners by tribunals in Assam have been deported since 2001, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the 126-member State Assembly on Monday. 

A total of 224 such non-citizens — 154 males and 70 females — are currently being housed at a ‘transit camp’ at Matia in western Assam’s Goalpara district. This transit camp was opened on January 27 after the people declared non-citizens by Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs) or quasi-judicial courts were shifted from six central jails across the State. 

Replying to a set of questions from Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi, the Chief Minister — who also holds the Home portfolio — said a total of 1,31,649 people who entered Assam illegally were identified by the FTs as foreigners. Of these, 3,111 were deported. 

According to the data provided, the rate of deportation (31%) was the highest in 2001 and lowest in 2018 at 0.24% although it was the year that clocked the detection of 26,823 people, the most to date. 

Steps against people with doubtful citizenship are taken according to the Foreigners’ Act of 1946, the Foreigners (Tribunal) Order of 1964 and notifications issued by the Centre from time to time, Dr. Sarma said. 

From Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on the (India-Bangladesh) border and Border Protection Grid and village survey by police, there are several layers for detecting and identifying suspected foreigners, he said.