‘Kill us here but please don’t send us to Pak’
The urge to see his cousins after 50 years became the undoing for 80-year-old Chandu Bhil.
“Kill us here in India but please don’t send us across the border,” was all the patriarch of his family of nine managed to say while being deported back to Pakistan on Saturday.
Even a stay order on their deportation by the Rajasthan High Court couldn’t keep Bhil and his family in India. Officials claimed that by the time the court order reached them, the Thar Express (which ferried the family) had already crossed over to Pakistan.
The state intelligence agencies sent Bhil and his family to Pakistan as they had violated Indian visa norms and had strayed into an area which was forbidden to all foreigners. Their visitor’s visa had expired in June and they had applied for a long-term visa.
“Chandu Bhil wanted to meet his cousins as he hadn’t seen them for more than 50 years. He also wanted to pay condolences over the death of his uncle and aunt. That’s why he and a few other members of his family went to Raslani, a village in Barmer district,” said Premchand Bhil, a relative.
The nine had come to Jodhpur from Sindh district in Pakistan in May this year and like many Hindus from across the border and wanted to settle in India to avoid religious persecution.
The relatives, settled in India, said that an illiterate Bhil and his family didn’t know they were violating visa rules by going to Barmer.
Additional director general of police, intelligence UR Sahoo had told HT on Saturday that the family had violated visa conditions by going west to NH 15, which is forbidden.
“They are illiterate and didn’t know that they were violating visa norms. The family had left everything behind in Pakistan and come to India to flee violence which Hindus there have to face,” said Mohandas Bhil, another relative. Mohandas was the guarantor of the family in India and is still under shock.
Amid a sense of disbelief, one can’t miss the anger directed towards the state administration. “If something happens to them in Pakistan, the Rajasthan government and state security agencies will be responsible for it. It’s shocking how a family of nine, six of whom were women and children, has been treated as terrorists,” said Premchand Bhil.
He added that the family had no idea that they would be deported as they had even paid penalty for the visa violation.
Activists have slammed the incident and the role of the administration.
“It’s unfortunate the way this incident has been handled by the administration. They came from Pakistan fearing persecution. The government should have handled this issue with a more humane approach,” said Hindu Singh Sodha from the Seemant Lok Sangathan.
“We are considering legal avenues to make sure that this incident doesn’t die down and such injustice doesn’t happen with other migrants,” said Sodha.
According to activists, 1.35 lakh Pakistani Hindus have come to India since 1965 and their population is estimated to have increased to around 5 lakh. In Rajasthan, their numbers are said to be 21,000 and counting.
Many of them take up odd jobs or live in ghettos in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur districts.
Those who are lucky and better-educated find occupations that pay them more. But they often have to face difficulties because of their Pakistani citizenship.
It’s unfortunate the way this incident has been handled by the administration. They came from Pakistan fearing persecution. The government should have handled this issue with a more humane approach. HINDU SINGH SODHA, activist of Seemant Lok Sangathan.