Assam’s Muslim students’ body appeals to President over harassment, illegal detentions of Indian Muslims in Assam

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 4, 2025

The Muslim Students’ Union of Assam (MSUA) has submitted a memorandum to the President of India seeking immediate intervention in what it alleges is the systematic harassment of Indian Muslims under the pretext of deporting illegal foreign nationals.

The memorandum, signed by MSUA president Jalal Uddin and chief organizing secretary Monjur Hussain, accuses the Assam authorities of using the “D-voter” (doubtful voter) label to unlawfully target Indian Muslim citizens, subjecting them to detention, loss of rights, and forced displacement.

The student body claims that Indian Muslim citizens are being unfairly harassed and stripped of their constitutional rights based on arbitrary suspicions about their citizenship. It urged the President to ensure an immediate end to what it describes as a pattern of persecution disguised as deportation procedures.

“We are deeply concerned about the growing use of the ‘D-voter’ designation to target genuine Indian citizens,” the memorandum stated, calling for a thorough review and correction of the electoral rolls where such tags appear without due process.

The MSUA also demanded the issuance of identity cards to individuals included in the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the completion of the pending process for those left out, by Supreme Court directives.

The union further pressed for legal aid and access to the High Court and Supreme Court for individuals declared foreigners by Foreigners’ Tribunals, stressing that many affected citizens lack the means to defend themselves.

The memorandum includes a serious allegation that over 70 Indian Muslim citizens were unlawfully detained and left stranded in “No Man’s Land” along the India-Bangladesh border. According to MSUA, the individuals were forced to endure harsh weather conditions without shelter, food, or medical assistance. While a few have since returned, many remain confined in detention camps.

The MSUA called the incident a gross violation of human rights and demanded an immediate investigation and intervention.

In its concluding appeal, the MSUA urged the President to order the cessation of unlawful detentions and deportations, protect the constitutional rights of Indian Muslim citizens, ensure a fair and transparent, and humane process in all citizenship-related matters.

Describing the situation as a humanitarian crisis, the student body expressed hope that the highest constitutional authority in the country would act swiftly to safeguard the rights and dignity of all Indian citizens, regardless of their religion or ethnicity.