Bengali citizens harassed during drive to identify illegal migrants: CPI(M) leaders write to Shah
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New Delhi (PTI): CPI(M) leaders Brinda Karat and Anurag Saxena on Friday wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah, and said they have received several complaints of "harassment of genuine citizens" during the ongoing exercise for "identification of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants" on grounds that they speak Bengali.
In a letter addressed to the home minister, the CPI(M) leaders said they heard complaints of human rights violations, harassment and extortion.
Karat, a former MP and special invitee to CPI(M) Politburo, and Saxena, Delhi state secretary of the party, said they, along with a team, visited Delhi's Bawana JJ colony and met several of the complainants.
"We were shocked to find blatant violation of minimum human rights, harassment and in some cases, corruption amounting to extortion," the CPI(M) leaders alleged.
They noted that the exercise was being carried out by Delhi Police and several other agencies under directions from the Union Home Ministry.
Listing out the cases, they gave cited the story of one Md Nizamuddin who said he was from Godda district, Jharkhand, and had migrated to Delhi several decades ago.
"He was allotted a plot by DDA in 2004 in Bawana JJ colony and presently resides there. On July 5, a team of police personnel from the local thana went to his house and accused him of helping a Bangladeshi to get illegal papers.
"He explained to the police that the tenant was staying there three years ago and he had no contact and had no idea of the person's whereabouts," the CPI(M) leaders said.
They said he was taken to the police station again on July 6, and also allegedly beaten up. While he was released later, the CPI(M) leaders said they were told photographs of the family had been uploaded on a police site.
"All such photos should be deleted from police records as the family are bonafide Indian citizens who have committed no crime. Also, action should be taken against those who beat Nizamuddin in custody," they said.
The letter also gave the example of one Sajan Saudagar Das from the jhuggi settlement in Bawana C block, who was picked up by the police on May 6 and taken to Pritampura thana. The CPI(M) leaders alleged he was badly beaten by two policemen who abused him saying that he should "confess" that he was a Bangladeshi.
They added that the police later said he was picked up "by mistake", and had picked him up as they received information that he was speaking in Bengali, the CPI(M) leaders said.
Another example cited by the leaders mentioned three women aged between 60 and 70 years who came to India as children, got married and have families here.
The letter also gave examples from Vivekanand camp in Chanakyapuri, where they alleged police took away ID documents from Bengalis and were returned later after intervention by some activists.
"The process of identification of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in the capital of India is an example of violation of minimum human rights. In the process, genuine Indian citizens are being targeted on grounds of language and religion. Is it now a crime in India to speak Bengali?" the CPI(M) leaders questioned.
"Further, are all Bengali speaking Muslim citizens of India to be treated as criminals and illegal immigrants? We would like to remind you that 26 per cent of the population of West Bengal are Bengali speaking Muslims." they said.
The CPI(M) leaders also said there are international norms for deportation of illegal immigrants. "The present methods of identification in Delhi violate all such norms," they added.
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Netanyahu defends expanded Gaza offfensive; Israeli strike kills five Al Jazeera journalists
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Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended a fresh military offensive in the Gaza Strip, calling it “more sweeping than previously announced” and asserting that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”
Speaking amid mounting condemnation at home and abroad over the 22-month conflict, Netanyahu said the security cabinet had directed the dismantling of Hamas strongholds not only in Gaza City but also in the “central camps” and Muwasi. These areas, according to UN estimates, shelter more than half a million displaced people and had not been mentioned in Israel’s earlier announcement on Friday.
A source familiar with the operation, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Israel’s plans to extend military action to both areas. Netanyahu maintained that “safe zones” would be established, though such areas have been bombed in previous strikes.
The announcement came as heavy bombardment was reported in Gaza City late Sunday. Shortly before midnight, Al Jazeera confirmed the killing of its correspondent Anas al-Sharif in a targeted Israeli strike. The attack hit a tent for Al Jazeera journalists outside the main gate of al-Shifa Hospital, an area known for hosting medical personnel.
Shifa Hospital’s administrative director, Rami Mohanna, said the strike killed five Al Jazeera journalists, including Sharif, whom Israel accused of leading a Hamas cell responsible for orchestrating rocket attacks. Sharif was killed moments after posting a video showing intense bombardment in Gaza City.
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