1 hr ago
Freed Indian Villager Keeps Citizenship Papers After Detention
Jalil Akhtar is a villager from North Dinajpur who says police took him away at night.
They suspected he might be from Bangladesh, even though he says he is an Indian citizen.
Akhtar says he was held for nearly three months.
He says officers asked him questions and examined papers proving his identity.
He also says he was taken near the border twice but was not sent to Bangladesh.
A court granted him bail, and he returned home in September.
The experience frightened him and affected his health.
Now he keeps copies of his important documents with him in case he is questioned again.
Jalil Akhtar says police took him from his home on June 19 over allegations that he was an illegal Bangladeshi national.
He says officers questioned him about Bangladesh and checked documents and voting evidence while he was detained.
Akhtar alleges two attempted pushbacks at India-Bangladesh border locations were stopped after officials examined his documents.
He was sent to judicial custody on July 22, granted bail on September 14, and released the next day.
Since his release, Akhtar says he carries photocopies of his Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN and job cards because he fears being detained again.
- Who
- Jalil Akhtar, a 66-year-old resident of Bagrui in North Dinajpur, was detained by police; his family and neighbours later supported his claim of Indian citizenship.
- What
- Akhtar was detained on suspicion of being an illegal Bangladeshi national, held for nearly three months, and released on bail.
- Where
- The detention involved Dalkhola police station, a police office in Islampur, a holding centre at Nizampur in Chakulia, and border outposts near Fulbari and Bhariadangi.
- When
- He was taken from home on June 19, sent to judicial custody on July 22, granted bail on September 14, and released on September 15.
- Why
- Police questioned Akhtar over an alleged connection to Bangladesh and asked him to prove his citizenship; Akhtar says he has no such connection and possesses valid Indian documents.
Key facts
- Age
- 66
- Home
- Bagrui, Bazargaon 2 panchayat, Karandighi block, North Dinajpur
- Detention began
- June 19
- Judicial custody
- Ordered on July 22
- Bail
- Granted on September 14
- Release
- September 15
- Documents carried
- Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN and job cards
Quotes
Jalil Akhtar
A 66-year-old North Dinajpur villager who was detained on suspicion of being an illegal Bangladeshi national.
“I returned home after offering prayers and went to sleep around 9.30pm. I do not remember when I fell asleep. Suddenly, I woke up to find two policemen standing beside my cot.”
telegraphindia.com
“I have photocopies of all my documents with me, even when I sleep. If I am picked up like that again, I want to have the papers with me to prove that I am an Indian citizen.”
telegraphindia.com
Anonymous local youth
A local resident describing anxiety in the community.
“This could happen to any of us. We have been asked to remain alert. Whenever we see a police or other vehicle entering the area, residents are asked to gather.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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