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On Oct 26, @mondalsudipto reported that Bangalore police picked up 60 suspected Bangladeshi workers. Most worked as manual scavengers, domestic workers. 1/7
@suchitrav @sasi @OHCHRAsia @project_polis https://thefederal.com/states/south/karnataka/60-suspected-bangladeshi-labourers-arrested-in-bengaluru-raids/
@suchitrav @sasi @OHCHRAsia @project_polis https://thefederal.com/states/south/karnataka/60-suspected-bangladeshi-labourers-arrested-in-bengaluru-raids/
Police filed a case of trafficking against 4 other persons, and named 59 of those detained as victims. Why? Because booking them under Foreigners Act would entitle them to bail, and would make it difficult to push them across the border.
@mondalsudipto reports that on 22 Nov, the detained workers were put up on a coach on the Howrah Express, along with a team of 40 policemen. They were to be handed over to the BSF who would then hand them over to the Border Guard Bangladesh. https://thefederal.com/the-federal-investigates/after-26-days-in-shelter-detained-bangladeshis-ferried-to-kolkata/
@mondalsudipto followed the train to Howrah, where local civil society held protests against this detention and pushback. Questions were asked: Would the BGB accept them or shoot back? Where would they stay? Who would guarantee safe passage?
@detsolnet @suchitrav @OHCHRAsia
@detsolnet @suchitrav @OHCHRAsia
While B'desh PM and Mamata Banerjee were watching the India-B'desh test match at Eden Gardens, the B'deshi workers were held at Howrah station for over 5 hours, and then taken to a govt. shelter near Nischinda thana, Howrah.
@vinaysreeni @mondalsudipto @geetikamantri
@vinaysreeni @mondalsudipto @geetikamantri
@mondalsudipto reports how waste segregation in Bangalore depends on B'deshi workers. But to get a work visa in India you have to earn atleast Rs. 16,25,000 PA. The system is designed to exclude informal sector workers from entering legally https://thefederal.com/opinion/bengalurus-bangladeshi-labourers-should-be-proud-the-shame-is-ours/
Some more context: In a pushback, migrants are often just pushed towards the border by the BSF. They are violent, humiliating and dangerous. Migrants pushed from one side could very well be shot by the BGB on the other side.
@senarijit @suchitrav @ohchr @aipf @makesyoucakes
@senarijit @suchitrav @ohchr @aipf @makesyoucakes
"BSF pushes back, BGB detains" the DailyStar in B'desh reports that on Nov 24, 32 "illegal immigrants" were detained after being found by BGB in a mango orchard, having been pushed back into B'desh by BSF.
https://tinyurl.com/vrrpjun
@dailystarnews
https://tinyurl.com/vrrpjun
@dailystarnews
Nepalese workers can legally work in the informal sector, but B'deshis are an "internal security threat". In 2011, 15 yr old Felani Khatun was shot dead by BSF, her body left hanging for 4 hours on barbed wire. Does she look like a threat to you? https://tinyurl.com/raj5cnm
As @senarijit reports, deportation involves bilateral cooperation by ministries, and take time. Pushbacks are a unilateral expulsion, illegal and dangerous, but happen quickly. The choice is between detention for years and then deportation, or pushback. https://tinyurl.com/vjhjkvd
Many of these workers live in India for years. After the 2003 citizenship law amendment, their kids and grandkids even if born in India will not be considered Indian citizens. India is creating a caste of stateless people who will work as manual scavengers and domestic workers.
In 92 under Operation Push Back, 132 migrants had their heads shaved and were pushed into Bangladesh. In 2005, 98 persons were detained in Mumbai under Operation Flush Out. Both operations conducted under Congress governments @vinaysreeni @senarijit @suchitrav
