Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has urged Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya to intervene and end the harassment of people in the name of identifying foreigners.
An AIUDF delegation, led by general secretary (organization) Hafiz Bashir Ahmed Qasmi, submitted a memorandum to the Governor at Raj Bhawan, demanding urgent action to stop the inhuman treatment of suspected foreigners.
The memorandum stated: “In recent weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people—especially from the Muslim community—who have been picked up, interrogated, and even arrested on mere suspicion of being illegal immigrants. These actions have often been taken without credible evidence, legal notice, or proper verification of documents. While some of these individuals have later been released after being found to be genuine Indian citizens, such repeated incidents have created an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among large sections of our population, particularly poor and marginalized Muslims, many of whom lack the resources or literacy to defend themselves against arbitrary action. It is alarming that even individuals possessing valid documentation such as voter ID cards, Aadhaar, and land records are being subjected to doubt and harassment.”
The memorandum further stated: “We would like to state clearly and unequivocally that the AIUDF does not support illegal immigration. We believe in the sovereignty of the nation and the sanctity of its borders. However, our objection lies in the misuse of authority and the targeting of Indian citizens in the name of identifying foreigners. Harassment, arbitrary detention, and wrongful accusations not only violate the principles of justice and fairness but also undermine the trust between the people and the administration.”
The memorandum demanded the Governor’s intervention to halt the harassment and outlined several necessary steps. These include directing the concerned authorities to exercise greater caution and legal diligence in identifying suspected foreigners, ensuring that no Indian citizen is wrongfully detained or subjected to intimidation, investigating and holding accountable those responsible for wrongful arrests or misuse of power, establishing a transparent and humane procedure with adequate legal aid for verifying citizenship claims, promoting awareness among officials and the public to avoid communal profiling, and ensuring that enforcement measures are free of bias or prejudice.
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