Couple, cleared by foreigners’ tribunal, files compensation suits against Government of Assam

Guwahati (Assam), Aug 27, 2018:

A couple in Assam, tagged as “foreigners” by the Border Police until being declared as genuine Indians by a foreigners’ tribunal later, has moved the court demanding compensation of Rs.2 crore.

The couple – Ratna Basak and Ruhidas Basak from Lumding – filed two compensation suits in the court of civil judge, Nagaon, against the State of Assam. Subsequently, an advocate notice was served to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Superintendent of Police (Border), Nagaon, and the Officer in Charge of Lumding Police Station.

The Border Police is mandated to detect illegal immigrants. The cases of persons, suspected to be illegal immigrants, are subsequently handled by the various foreigners’ tribunals.

Talking to InsideNE, Ruhidas said a sub-inspector of Lumding Police Station had doubts about their nationality and as such, a case was registered. He said they then received a notice that asked them to appear before the foreigners’ tribunal on August 25 last year for a hearing.

Following the hearing, the tribunal declared both as genuine Indian citizens on January 12 this year. This made Ruhidas to write letters to the Prime Minister, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Principal Secretary in the Home Department, Government of Assam, highlighting the issue.

Ruhidas said he was born in 1959 and served in the Indian Railways from 1985. His father too had served the Railways from 1951 to 1985 and voted in the 1966 elections.

Allegations of harassment of people by the police on the suspicion that they are illegal immigrants are not new in Assam. The case of Ruhidas is a glaring example.