A pregnant woman from West Bengal and her eight-year-old son who were “pushed” into Bangladesh by the authorities on claims that they are undocumented immigrants were brought back to India on Friday.
The woman, Sunali Khatun, and her son Sabir entered West Bengal through the Mahadipur border crossing, The Times of India reported. They were taken to a hospital in Malda for tests to determine whether she can travel to their home in Birbhum about 180 km away.
Khatun’s husband Danish Sk is still in Bangladesh.
The Union government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it will bring back Khatun and her son on humanitarian grounds, but “without prejudice” to New Delhi’s “contentions on merits and our right to put them under surveillance”.
This came two days after the court, taking note of Khatun’s advanced pregnancy, asked the government whether the mother and the son could be returned to India.
Khatun, her son and husband were released on bail in Bangladesh on Monday evening. So was another family of Sweety Bibi and her two sons. They were arrested on August 21 for illegal entry after being “pushed” into Bangladesh by the Indian authorities in June.
They walked out of the Chapainawabganj jail at about 7.30 pm after more than three months in custody.
Their release followed a local court order that granted them bail on humanitarian grounds. A Bangladeshi citizen stood surety for the group and provided a bail bond of 5,000 taka.
The Chapainawabganj court accepted arguments that the group included a pregnant woman and children, and ordered their release on bail. However, the magistrate set conditions that they must remain in Bangladesh and appear before the court when required.
Khatun, Sweety Bibi and their families have maintained that they hail from West Bengal’s Birbhum district. Khatun, her husband and son were taken into custody in Delhi on June 20, and all three were sent to Bangladesh six days later.
On September 26, the Calcutta High Court had set aside the deportation order against the six persons. It had directed that they be brought back to West Bengal within four weeks. The High Court had passed the order on a petition filed by Khatun’s father Bhodu Sekh.
Two days before the four-week period ended, the Union government in October challenged the order before the Supreme Court. The government and the Delhi Police questioned whether the High Court had the jurisdiction to hear the case.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed the West Bengal government to ensure free medical facilities for Khatun. It further directed the state government to also take care of her son.
During the proceedings, advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, requested that the Union government be instructed to repatriate the other four persons who had been deported.
However, Mehta claimed that they were Bangladeshis and the Union government had a serious contest.
The bench observed that if Khatun could establish a biological connection with Bhodu Sekh, who was an Indian citizen, then she could also establish Indian citizenship, Live Law reported.
The Supreme Court will hear the matter next on December 12.
Since May, thousands of Bengali-speaking migrant workers have been rounded up in states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party and asked to prove that they were Indian citizens – and not undocumented immigrants.
In several cases, workers have been declared foreigners within days and forced into Bangladesh, despite being Indian citizens.
Also read:
|
