Guwahati, July 1: The All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, demanding an immediate halt to the “arbitrary and unlawful detention” of Indian Muslims and alleged pushbacks into Bangladesh.
In the strongly worded appeal delivered at Raj Bhavan, AAMSU accused Assam Police of bypassing constitutional safeguards and detaining Indian citizens on mere suspicion of being illegal immigrants. The organization said these detentions are being carried out indiscriminately, without legal basis, and in violation of the unique citizenship framework that applies to Assam.
The student body stressed that under Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955—upheld by the Supreme Court—Assam follows specific procedures different from the rest of the country. They cited the NRC process, conducted under SC supervision and concluded with the final list on August 31, 2019. A subsequent Ministry of Home Affairs statement clarified that those excluded from the NRC are not to be detained until all legal remedies are exhausted, and retain all civil rights in the meantime.
AAMSU further argued that only Foreigners Tribunals, constituted under the 1946 Foreigners Act, have the legal authority to determine citizenship. “Police have no jurisdiction to decide who is a foreigner,” the memorandum said, adding that detaining or re-arresting people—especially those included in the final NRC or still appealing—is a blatant violation of legal process.
The group also raised alarm over reports of “declared foreigners” being forcibly pushed into no man’s land along the India-Bangladesh border. “Such acts not only breach Indian government policy but also violate due process and human rights,” AAMSU said, noting that multiple such cases are currently under review by the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court.
The memorandum also condemned recent mass evictions of minority communities across districts like Goalpara, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, and Dhubri. Many of the evictees, AAMSU noted, are erosion victims who have been living on unused land for decades. These forced removals have left thousands homeless, including children, women, and the elderly, exposed to heat, rain, and disease without basic necessities. A 60-year-old woman reportedly died amid these dire conditions in Goalpara.
“These actions amount to gross human rights violations,” the organization said, highlighting severe threats to education, safety, and public health in the affected areas.
AAMSU has urged the Governor to take immediate steps to stop unlawful detentions and pushbacks, direct authorities to follow due legal procedures, and provide urgent relief and rehabilitation to those displaced. The memorandum ends with a call to uphold the constitutional rights of all Indian citizens, regardless of religion, language, or background.
