“`html
In Gurugram, a prosperous satellite city of Delhi, modern SUVs, sleek skyscrapers, and manicured apartments present a stark contrast to the nearby presence of mosquito infestations, refuse accumulation, and informal shantytowns.
Within the confines of gated communities reside some of India’s wealthiest citizens, while adjacent slums house impoverished migrant laborers – predominantly domestic staff, waste collectors, and daily wage earners – who sustain the city’s affluence.
Recently, local authorities initiated a “verification” campaign, purportedly aimed at identifying undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants, during which hundreds of these workers, many identifying as Bengali-speaking Muslims from the Indian state of West Bengal, were apprehended.
Detainees were subsequently held in designated “holding centers” and required to furnish documentation verifying their citizenship. Several have alleged instances of police brutality and mistreatment during this process, allegations which law enforcement officials have refuted.
“I presented my voter ID and national identification cards, but they were dismissed as counterfeit. I endured six days of uncertainty before my eventual release,” recounted Ather Ali Sheikh, a daily wage laborer who has resided in the city for 15 years.
This action has had a profound impact on the social fabric of the city, renowned for its cosmopolitan character. Hundreds of workers have reportedly fled overnight, abandoning their employment, residences, and, in some instances, even their families, in a desperate attempt to escape.
“I am still at a loss to understand the sudden targeting,” Mr. Sheikh stated, as his wife hastily packed their possessions – worn clothing, antiquated utensils, and schoolbooks – into flimsy cartons.
“Was it due to my linguistic background, my religious affiliation, or my economic status?” Mr. Sheikh questioned, his expression hardening with resentment. “Why were affluent Bengali residents not subjected to the same scrutiny?”
Gurugram police have denied allegations of discriminatory targeting. “Religion and socioeconomic class are irrelevant to this initiative,” asserted public relations officer Sandeep Kumar to the BBC.
He further stated that, of the 250 individuals detained, only 10 have been identified as undocumented migrants and are slated for deportation.
“All others have been released. No individual was subjected to maltreatment at the centers. Our approach has been entirely impartial and objective.”
Meanwhile, apprehension is also being felt elsewhere in the city.
With a dearth of sanitation workers, refuse has been overflowing from public receptacles and waste disposal sites onto thoroughfares, causing inconvenience to residents.
“Our domestic worker and her spouse, who was employed as a driver, have both departed, leaving us without assistance,” said Tabassum Bano, a resident of one of the city’s residential complexes.
Crackdowns targeting suspected undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh, a predominantly Muslim nation, are not unprecedented in India. The two countries share a porous border spanning 4,096km (2,545 miles), which has witnessed recurrent cross-border movements of people.
However, these efforts appear to have intensified under the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In recent months, numerous individuals, including a retired Muslim officer of the Indian Army, have been apprehended on suspicion of being undocumented migrants.
In the northeastern state of Assam, where this issue has long been a contentious subject, authorities have been reportedly “pushing back” hundreds of Bengali-Muslims into Bangladesh, alleging that they are “illegal Bangladeshis.”
Deportations are also underway in Delhi, where approximately 700 individuals have been apprehended and transported to border states in the past six months.
This has had a chilling effect on the marginalized community.
In Gurugram, a sense of unease has permeated their impoverished settlements.
“For years, we have been responsible for cleaning and collecting their refuse. Now, we are being treated as if we are refuse ourselves,” said Rauna Bibi.
Rauna’s husband, a domestic worker, had returned from West Bengal on the same day the detentions commenced. Overcome with apprehension upon hearing of the situation, he promptly departed again, this time without informing his wife.
“For three days, I was consumed with anxiety, wondering if he had been apprehended, or even if he was still alive,” Rauna recounted. “When we finally spoke, he said he had refrained from calling to avoid any potential complications.”
However, it was not her husband’s actions or his unemployment that distressed Rauna the most. It was the loss of her dignity – and the sense of belonging – that caused her the greatest anguish, leaving her feeling insignificantly small.
“Unlike poverty, this is a challenge I cannot overcome through diligent labor,” she lamented. “If they target us, I am uncertain how we will survive. This slum, our occupations, and the homes we maintain – these constitute our entire existence.”
Mr. Kumar stated that the recent actions are predicated on a directive issued by the Home Ministry in May, outlining revised protocols for deporting undocumented migrants.
Under the provisions of the directive, all states are mandated to establish a specialized task force, along with holding centers, to “detect, identify, and deport/return undocumented migrants who have settled from Bangladesh and Myanmar.”
Each individual would be granted 30 days to substantiate their citizenship, during which time authorities would forward their documents to their respective home districts for verification.
Should they fail to validate the details, the suspects would be escorted by law enforcement “under proper supervision, in groups whenever practicable,” and transferred to border patrol units for deportation.
Critics, however, have questioned the directive, contending that it lacks specificity regarding the criteria by which an individual is deemed a suspect.
“Superficially, the sole determinant appears to be the individual’s proficiency in Bengali, a Muslim-sounding name, and residence in a shantytown,” stated Aakash Bhattacharya, representing the All India Central Council of Trade Unions, an organization advocating for workers’ rights.
Compounding the issue is the fact that none of the suspects are being issued certificates confirming that their citizenship has been validated, he added.
“This renders them susceptible to being subjected to the same procedures repeatedly, making them exceedingly vulnerable.”
Mr. Kumar maintained that the detentions in Gurugram were executed on the basis of substantial preliminary evidence.
“We examined their mobile phones and discovered suspicious contacts originating from Bangladesh. Certain individuals also provided inconsistent responses regarding their lineage during questioning,” he stated.
Suhas Chakma, a human rights advocate, asserted that the policy is not intrinsically discriminatory toward any particular religious group.
“The arrest of Muslims appears to be primarily attributable to the fact that they constitute approximately 95% of Bangladesh’s population,” he clarified.
He added that for a country that has experienced inflows of refugees for decades, India requires a more comprehensive refugee law to address these complex issues.
For now, Bengali-Muslims are living with a deep sense of foreboding.
Many of them have been sleeping with documents tucked under the pillow in case misfortune strikes.
“We were already fighting the harsh reality of our lives. Now we have to fight this too,” said Rabi-ul-Hassan, a resident of Jai Hind camp, a massive slum located in one of the poshest corners of Delhi.
Three weeks ago, authorities cut off electricity in the area, instantly plunging some 400 people into darkness.
The action came after a court ruled that the slum-dwellers, who say they have lived there for generations, were squatting on private land.
“They did this even when the area is recognised as a legal slum by the city’s own urban planning organisation,” said Abhik Chimni, a lawyer who is challenging the order.
Since then residents have been in some kind of stupor, dazed, angry and tired. “The heat is unbearable. The food keeps rotting and the children don’t stop crying. At night, we try to sleep outside but then mosquitoes bite us,” said Baijan Bibi.
“I am so exhausted,” she continued, “that sometimes I wonder if it’s better to live in a holding centre. At least there will be a fan there, right?”
Veer Singh and Kali Devi were away buying groceries when flash floods hit their village on Tuesday.
The detentions came as people arrived in Dover on Wednesday, the first day the pilot scheme came into force.
Sir Keir Starmer has promised to “smash the gangs” which smuggle people across the English Channel.
Experts say the US’s sweeping tariffs will slow down the Indian economy if Delhi fails to secure a deal.
Campaigners warn the move will not close all the recycling loopholes being exploited by criminals.
“`