State administration kept 102-year-old Chandradhar Das in detention camp; where is the humanity?

Humanitarian ground- it’s not a geographical land somewhere in India where kindness is showered. But the ground has come in aid to many, and is one of the most discussed terms in India. On humanitarian ground, people come out and propose a ban on capital punishment, question Supreme Court’s decision of death sentences, and most recently the vocal support to the illegal Rohingya migrants. Rohingyas are human too and hence India should not come hard against the migrants illegally moving to India from Myanmar, is what advocates of humanitarian ground argue.

But such arguments or the fantasy-land/humanitarian ground, both has no existence in South Assam. A 102-year-old Bengali man, Chandradhar Das has been living in a detention camp since last three months. The Assam Police alleged that Chandradhar Das was living in India in the state of Assam without any valid document. The superintendent of police suspected the centenarianto be a Bangladeshi, who illegally migrated to India, “without necessary travel documents” after March 25, 1971. The SP Cachar Police forwarded the case to Foreigner Tribunal 6th “expressing doubt about the Nationality of the Opposite Party (Chandradhar Das)”.

The Tribunal then issued a notice to Chandradhar Das, son of Late Satish Das to furnish written statement and submit necessary documents that would prove his nationality. The Tribunal in its judgement order mentions that despite giving numerous opportunities to the opposite party (O.P) (Chandradhar Das), they failed to submit the written statement. “We have given enough opportunity to the O.P for filing written statement, but the O.P could not file written statement. Hence the case is taken for ex-parte disposal. Under provisions of Foreigner’s Act 1946 and the provisions made there under burden of proof lies on the O.P to prove that he is not a foreigner. Thus the case proceed ex-parte against the O.P,” read the judgement order.

Accordingly, the O.P was declared an illegal migrant. The judge in the Foreigner Tribunal ordered E.R.O Cachar to delete Das’ name from the voter-list. He was therefore declared as a D-voter and was placed in a detention camp. Detention camps in Assam are worse than jails; several people have already died in those detention camps. The un-hygienic living condition with little or zero medical care is hell on earth. Das had a citizenship certificate issued in 1966 from Agartala, which certifies him as an Indian citizen. He also had a voter id card, and is certain to have voted many times in his life, thus playing a role in electing the leader. But none of the leaders or organisations, which demonstrate in support of citizenship amendment bill every now and then, came out in respite to the old man. His daughter Niyati Roy has been taking care of her father. Since last month, she went to many officials including the deputy commissioner pleading for an exemption but got very little in return.

Member of Parliament Sushmita Dev expressed her concern in the state of affairs. “It is the state’s responsibility to deal with a 102-year-old man with utmost humanity,” she said, adding, “What I have heard so far is that he had many documents which proves him to be an Indian citizen. Even if he fails to prove that we will be with him, I will personally meet his family members and following the law of the land, will help him in every possible way.”

He was living in Dholai’s Borai village in MLA, minister of forest and environment, excise and fishery, Parimal Shuklabaidya’s constituency. The minister too expressed his concern, “No way a 102-year-old man should have landed in a detention camp, this is very sad. I have personally reached out to a few people and we will see what can be done,” he said.

Just to remind all readers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his campaign in Barak Valley had said it loud and clear that he and his party will uproot all the detention camps and that too, in no time. Well, that fat promise stayed as a verbal assurance and nothing seems to have happened on this ground.

Documents submitted by Chandradhar Das