31 ‘FOREIGNERS’ DIED IN ASSAM’S DETENTION CENTRES BETWEEN 2016 AND 2021: CM
SILCHAR: A total 31 people who were declared foreigners have died in Assam’s six detention centres between 2016 to 2022, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He also informed that 185 declared foreigners are still in detention centres while 1047 are out on bail and they are taking legal recourse to prove their identities in foreigners’ tribunals.
Replying to a question by Congress party MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha in the ongoing assembly session regarding the deaths inside detention centers, Sarma informed that there are six detention centres across Assam and till date, 31 persons have died due to illness.
A total of 14 persons died in Goalpara detention camp while 9 died in Tezpur, 4 in Silchar, 3 in Kokrajhar and 1 in Jorhat. The first death was registered in Silchar detention centre. On March 17, 2016 when a 79-yearold resident of Hailakandi district, who was arrested on October 5, 2015, died due to illness.
So far, the last death in detention centre was registered in Silchar again. On January 11, 2022, 60-year-old Jamal Uddin died due to illness. Jamal Uddin was resident of Bangladesh’s Sylhet and his dead body was sent back to his country later.
The oldest person to die inside detention centres was Rashid Ali who died at the age of 86 in Jorhat on November 22, 2017. While the youngest person to died inside detention camp was 35-year-old Dulal Miya, a resident of Bangladesh’s Samarganj.
Replying to another question of Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Chief Minister informed that Foreigners Tribunal courts have issued notices 19358 persons between May 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 asking them to prove their Indian identity by appearing before court.
Sarma shared district wise numbers which shows that highest number of notices were issued in Guwahati City while Cachar district comes second in this list. AIUDF MLA from Chenga assembly constituency, Ashraful Hussain placed questions regarding number cases disposed by Foreigners Tribunal.