SS News Desk
July 24, 2025:
Indian authorities have expelled hundreds of ethnic Bengali Muslims to Bangladesh in recent weeks without following legal procedures, in what Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling a clear violation of international human rights standards. Many of those expelled are Indian citizens, particularly from states bordering Bangladesh.
Since May 2025, the BJP-led government has intensified its crackdown on so-called “illegal immigrants,” rounding up Bengali-speaking Muslims—often impoverished migrant workers—and forcing them across the border into Bangladesh. HRW’s investigation reveals that these expulsions were carried out without verifying citizenship claims, legal hearings, or proper documentation.
Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, stated, “India’s ruling BJP is fueling discrimination by arbitrarily expelling Bengali Muslims, including its own citizens. These actions blatantly disregard due process and international human rights norms.”
HRW interviewed 18 individuals in June, including victims and their families. Many described being threatened, beaten, and forced to cross the border at gunpoint. In some cases, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) confiscated their phones and documents, leaving them unable to prove their identity or contact family.
Khairul Islam, 51, a former schoolteacher from Assam, recounted being gagged, hand-tied, and pushed into Bangladesh by BSF officials on May 26. “When I refused, they beat me and fired rubber bullets,” he said. Islam managed to return two weeks later.
According to Bangladesh’s Border Guard, over 1,500 Muslim men, women, and children—along with around 100 Rohingya refugees—were expelled between May 7 and June 15. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry has criticized the move, calling these collective expulsions “unacceptable” and demanding that only verified nationals be repatriated through proper channels.
The expulsions followed a militant attack on Hindu pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir in April, after which police began targeting Muslims across BJP-run states like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. A May directive from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs urged states to identify and deport undocumented migrants within 30 days, sparking widespread detentions.
In addition to violating domestic legal protections, the expulsions contravene international obligations, including the principle of nonrefoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they may face danger.
HRW is urging the Indian government to immediately halt arbitrary expulsions, ensure legal safeguards, and investigate allegations of abuse. “These expulsions reflect broader discriminatory policies against Muslims,” Pearson added. “India is undermining its global reputation as a refuge for the persecuted in pursuit of political gain.”
Source: HRW Press Release
