Indian Human Rights Body Alleges Four Citizens Pushed Across Border Into Bangladesh Without Legal Process
Human rights organizations in neighboring India have raised serious allegations that Indian authorities in West Bengal's Murshidabad district detained an elderly man and his three sons without any formal legal process and forcibly pushed them across the border into Bangladesh. The incident, which has drawn sharp scrutiny over border management practices, was brought to light on September 24 by MASUM, a prominent human rights organization operating in border regions.
According to information provided by advocacy groups, the detentions took place on August 13 from Baliaghati village under the Umarapur Panchayat of Suti Police Station in Murshidabad. The victims were identified as 60-year-old Dablu Sheikh and his three sons: 29-year-old Kayem Sheikh, 20-year-old Rajaul Sheikh, and 16-year-old Asmaul Sheikh.
Family members and human rights defenders have asserted that the targeted family possesses robust and legitimate documentation proving their Indian citizenship. Records indicate that Dablu Sheikh's name is included in the 2026 voter list, and he cast his ballot earlier this year. Furthermore, historical records show his father, Sheikh Samjani, listed in the 1966 Indian electoral rolls. The family also holds updated, crucial Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards and ration cards.
Human rights networks, including MASUM and PACTI, have strongly questioned how the citizenship of the four individuals could be contested and how they could be summarily expelled across the border without judicial review, despite the presence of such compelling documentation. The organizations emphasized that individuals cannot be arbitrarily labeled as foreigners based solely on language, financial status, or religious identity, and that any suspicions regarding citizenship legally mandate due process and an opportunity for self-defense.
In response to the alleged extrajudicial expulsion, the rights organizations have submitted a formal written complaint to India's state home department, demanding an impartial and high-level inquiry. They have specifically called for an investigation into the conduct of the officer-in-charge of Suti Police Station and the superintendent of police in Jangipur. Additionally, the groups urged authorities to disclose the current whereabouts of the four individuals and ensure their swift repatriation to India if they were indeed pushed across the border into Bangladesh.
As of reporting time, no formal statements or responses regarding the incident have been issued by the West Bengal state police, India's Border Security Force, or any other relevant government authorities. Consequently, official government records and forthcoming statements from concerned agencies remain critical to clarifying the exact legal mechanisms—if any—that led to the detention and cross-border transfer of the four individuals.
