An army veteran with 30 years of service, Mr Sanaullah was working as an officer with the border police - a unit of the state police service - when a call came which said that he had been declared a "foreigner". He was subsequently sent to a detention camp.
Ironically, one of its main jobs is to stem illegal migration from Bangladesh.
But Mr Sanaullah was luckier than most. His story caught the attention of national media, which began flashing headlines that a "war hero" in the state had been declared a foreigner.
Outrage quickly followed and the war veteran's tale has been followed by both national and international media.
Keep following Inside Northeast on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram. Do download our app from the Google Playstore for the latest news updates, views, and entertainment on the go. We deliver the Northeast.
