Human Rights Watch Alleges Mass Deportation of Ethnic Bengalis from India

 

July 26, 2025 | New Delhi – The Global Daily

A recent report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised serious concerns over the alleged mass deportation of ethnic Bengali Muslims from India to Bangladesh, accusing Indian authorities of violating both domestic and international human rights obligations. According to the 23-page report published this week, hundreds of people—many of whom claim Indian citizenship—were expelled without due process, including access to legal counsel or proper documentation review.

The report documents dozens of first-hand testimonies from families in Assam and West Bengal who say their relatives were detained in detention centers for weeks or months before being put on buses and forcibly sent across the border to Bangladesh. Several deportees interviewed by HRW claimed they had voter IDs, Aadhaar cards, and even land records proving their Indian nationality, but were still declared “foreigners” without the opportunity to contest the decision.

HRW said the actions may constitute violations of international law, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to a country where they face a real risk of persecution. The watchdog urged the Indian government to halt all deportations and conduct transparent, fair procedures that ensure the protection of minority rights. It also called for the release of individuals being held in prolonged administrative detention without trial.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has not issued a formal response to the report but officials have previously defended such actions as part of an ongoing effort to identify and remove illegal immigrants. A senior government source, speaking anonymously, said that all deportations were done “in accordance with legal protocols” and denied that citizens were being expelled unjustly. However, the government has yet to publicly provide evidence of those claims.

In Bangladesh, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over the sudden influx of people across the border and stated that it had not received prior notification from the Indian side regarding these transfers. Local communities in northern Bangladesh have reported the arrival of dozens of disoriented individuals who arrived without possessions, food, or housing, placing strain on humanitarian resources. Dhaka has formally requested bilateral talks to address the issue.

Political reactions in India have been divided. Opposition leaders from the Indian National Congress and Trinamool Congress have accused the ruling government of engaging in an “ethnic cleansing campaign” under the guise of national security. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded an immediate judicial inquiry and accused the central government of targeting a specific community for political gain. Activists and civil rights groups have also staged protests in Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata, calling for an end to what they describe as systematic discrimination against Bengali Muslims.

The report comes amid ongoing debates over India’s controversial National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), both of which have been criticized for creating ambiguity around citizenship status, especially among marginalized communities. Experts warn that the deportation of individuals without robust legal safeguards risks setting a dangerous precedent and could fuel communal tensions in the region.

As the international community monitors the situation closely, calls are growing for independent oversight and legal reform. Human rights organizations continue to press for accountability and transparency, emphasizing that citizenship should not be arbitrarily stripped away and that no individual should be rendered stateless in a democratic nation.