Bangladeshi Aliens deported, but no decision on divided family

New Delhi, Jan 14 At least 82 illegal Bangladeshi migrants were deported by authorities even as there was no decision on a Bangladeshi woman who faces a cruel separation from her Indian husband and elder son.

According to the highly placed sources in the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which keeps an eye over illegal immigrants, 82 such aliens from Bangladesh were put on the Brahamputra Express to Malda in West Bengal Tuesday 8.30 p.m. before being pushed across the border.

However, the train did not carry Bangladeshi national Salma and her three-year-old son Bismillah, who was born in India but according to the Citizenship Amendment Act 2003 is not an Indian citizen, who now faces separation from her Indian husband Mohammad Khalid and their elder son Yasin.

Yasin, 5, is an Indian citizen. According to the Citizenship Amendment Act 2003 those born in India on or after 2003 are recognised Indian citizens only if one of the parents is an Indian citizen and the other parent should not be an “illegal migrant”.

“We have not put Seema and her son on the train. The matter is still being investigated,” a senior FRRO official told IANS.

Auto rickshaw driver Khalid his wife Seema along with their neighbour Malti Patra were picked up by the northeast Delhi Police from their Faridabad, a satellite town on the outskirts of the national capital, house Jan 6.

Patra was released later after she was found to be an Indian citizen. The police also released Khalid, allegedly to arrange for bribe money to have his family released.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast Delhi) S.S. Yadav said they have launched an investigation into Khalid’s allegations. Khalid and his elder son Yasin were also let off later after he managed to produce evidence of being an Indian citizen.

But Delhi Police then handed over his wife and younger son to FRRO for their deportation.

Khalid has not been allowed to meet his family. With all doors being slammed on him, Khalid has now decided to go to Kolkata to unite with his family.

“They have not informed me when my wife and son would be deported. So I am going there in advance to check whether they have arrived in Kolkata,” he told a newspaper.

According to FFRO officials, inquiry in their case is still pending and deportation of illegal aliens was done only in batches of at least 60 people.

“Usually Bangladeshis are sent in a week or two week time from Delhi to West Bengal,” said the officer.