The Calcutta High Court has directed the Union government to submit an affidavit explaining the reasons behind the recent nationwide raids conducted in June, which allegedly targeted Bengali-speaking people under the suspicion of being illegal Bangladeshi migrants. The court's concerns arose from multiple habeas corpus petitions filed, addressing the alleged unlawful detention of Bengali-speaking migrants in Odisha and the deportation of individuals to Bangladesh.
A division bench of Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Reetobroto Kumar Mitra voiced apprehension over the timing and intent of the identification drive. Justice Chakraborty questioned whether the operation was pre-planned, emphasizing the need to clarify the matter to avoid sending the wrong message. He noted allegations that people were being detained and deported simply for speaking Bengali, a claim that has sparked considerable concern.
The court also sought affidavits from the West Bengal government and Delhi Police regarding the deportation of a family of three from Birbhum district to Bangladesh. According to State counsel Kalyan Bandyopadhyay, speaking Bengali cannot be grounds for suspecting someone of being an illegal immigrant and that due procedure must be followed. Bandyopadhyay further demanded clarification on the number of Bengali-speaking individuals detained and deported.
Dheeraj Trivedi, senior counsel for the Delhi Police, denied the allegations, asserting that no one had been deported for speaking Bengali. Trivedi cited an incident in Kashmir where approximately 165 people, including some Bengali speakers, were arrested after a terrorist attack but were later released.
The Calcutta High Court also raised concerns that the habeas corpus plea before them had suppressed the fact that a similar petition had already been filed in the Delhi High Court by relatives of the deported family. The bench cautioned against misusing the court process and directed all parties to file affidavits in the case.
The court has asked the Centre to verify reports of Bengali-speaking people being questioned about their nationality in various parts of India. The court also questioned the Odisha government regarding the alleged detention of Bengali-speaking migrant workers from West Bengal.
