In a significant development, 28 individuals from the Bengali Muslim community in Assam's Barpeta district, who had been declared foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunals, were detained on Monday and transferred to a foreigner transit camp in Goalpara district, approximately 50 kilometers away.

A social media video captured the emotional scene outside the Barpeta Superintendent of Police's office as family members watched their relatives being transported by police bus. Faruk Khan, a local activist, explained that individuals from 28 different families were summoned to police stations for signatures before being taken to the SP office and placed on a bus. Khan noted that these individuals had been served foreigner notices by the border branch of the Assam police and declared foreigners after several tribunal hearings.

The Foreigners Tribunals, established under the Foreigners Act of 1946, address cases of illegal migration. With around 100 tribunals across Assam, these bodies handle cases involving doubtful voters and suspected foreigners. The establishment of these tribunals was a response to a prolonged agitation by indigenous Assamese people concerned about the impact of illegal migration from Bangladesh on their identity and culture.

On August 22, the Assam Home Department reported to the state Assembly that there were 119,570 D-voters in Assam, of whom 54,411 had been declared foreigners by the tribunals. Since 2017, 16 such individuals have been deported to Bangladesh. D-voters are also prohibited from voting according to a 1997 Election Commission order.

The Home Department also updated the Assembly on the foreigner transit camp at Matia in Goalpara, the largest such center in the country, which currently houses 210 declared foreigners.

The detention of these 28 individuals coincides with backlash against Bengali Muslims in Assam, heightened by a recent alleged incident involving two Muslim youths. This group, often referred to as 'miyas,' faces scrutiny and allegations of being "infiltrators" and threats to Assamese identity, a sentiment shared by many including the ruling BJP.

In contrast, the BJP does not view Hindu migrants in the same light. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has recently assured that the D-voter issue concerning Hindu Bengalis will be resolved within six months.

The 28 detainees include 9 women and 19 men from various police station jurisdictions within Barpeta. Their transfer to the detention camp was marked by intense emotions, with families breaking down as their loved ones were taken away. This event is part of a broader effort by the Assam government to address illegal immigration issues under the Foreigners Act, with the transit camps serving as temporary holding centers until deportation or other legal resolutions are finalized.