The Calcutta High Court has ordered the return of six people, including a pregnant woman, who were deported to Bangladesh earlier this year, calling the deportation illegal. The court directed the Union Home Ministry to ensure their repatriation to West Bengal within four weeks.
The group, comprising two families from Birbhum district, was arrested by Delhi Police in June and later deported by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) on grounds of invalid documents and speaking Bengali. The court described this deportation as a wrongful pushback and emphasized the urgency of bringing them back, especially the pregnant woman, Sunali Khatun.
Despite the court’s order, the Centre indicated plans to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
The ruling has sparked strong political reactions in West Bengal. Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress general secretary and MP, praised the verdict on social media, accusing the BJP of targeting Bengalis through systematic harassment. State minister Shashi Panja also condemned the deportation, stressing that Sunali Khatun is an Indian citizen who was unjustly sent to Bangladesh while working in Delhi.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of Bengali-speaking communities and raises important questions about citizenship and human rights.
