CRPC fights for the cause of detainees in Central Jail

Special Correspondent

 Silchar, Sept 18: Citizens’ Rights Preservation Committee (CRPC), Assam, has taken up the cases of those Bangladeshis who continue to be detained in Silchar Central Jail turned into detention camp beyond their period of punishment according to the Foreigners’ Act of 1946. Most of them have been languishing for more than two years. Neither the state of Assam nor the Centre has felt the need of taking necessary steps for their deportation to their tive land of Bangladesh. Rather, these detainees are subjected to mental harassment, amounting to gross violation of human rights.

  Taking a serious view of the matter, CRPC has been creating pressure on the authorities concerned for their release and making arrangement for sending them back to their houses on that side of the border. Realizing that the issue can only be resolved through legal process, Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury, chief advisor of CRPC and senior advocate of Gauhati High Court, has filed two writ petitions on behalf of the detained Bangladeshis. One of these is WP(C) No.5548/2016. The detainees, Ali Hussain and Abdul Hann, are both residents of Jakiganj, Sylhet.

  The writ petition came up for hearing before the Hon’ble Court on Friday. The Court wanted to know from the authorities concerned of the Centre and the state about the steps being taken for the deportation of both the detainees. It directed the authorities to keep the developments posted with the Court by October 25. In yet another writ petition WP(C) No.3190/2016 related to Prabhavati Goala, resident of Habiganj district, the two member Bench of Justice Rumi Kumari Phukan and Justice Ujjal Bhuiya served a notice on June 14, 2016 to the authorities concerned returble within six weeks with the information about the steps taken.

  As there was no response, again on September 8, 2016, the Court issued another directive to the effect if by October 4 next, the report was not received, the officials of the Exterl Affairs Ministry, Union Home Ministry and the State Ministries concerned would be directed to appear persolly before the High Court to answer. Sadhan Purkayastha, secretary general of CRPC, said his organization is not only fighting for the cause of the Indian citizens but also for those who want to go back to Bangladesh on humanitarian ground.

  Moreover, CRPC is also contemplating legal and administrative steps for them. In this connection, the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Delhi and Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata would also be moved, he pointed out. It is not only these detainees but also a mother and her two sons (published in The Sentinel issue of April 29 last) along with 63 other declared foreigners lodged in the Central Jail who have already served out the period of sentence. 52 of them have admitted as the tiols of Bangladesh and Myanmar.

  It goes against all canons of justice and humanity that these foreigners are lodged along with convicts and terrorists. Moreover, the Central Jail is overcrowded against its capacity. It is also unfortute as revealed that the life convicts who have completed their period of sentence and prayed for parole have not received any reasoble or sympathetic consideration. Human rights organizations like Hindu Legal Cell and CRPC have demanded immediate deportation of the foreign tiols who have completed their period of sentences.