47,900 Illegal Immigrants Detained in Assam from 1971 to 2014

The Assam government reported on Thursday that approximately 47,900 illegal immigrants have been identified in the state from 1971 to 2014. Foreign tribunals in the state have declared these individuals as foreigners during this period.

In response to a written question from AGP MLA Ponakan Barua, Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also handles the Home Department, stated that from 1971 to 2014, foreign tribunals declared 47,928 people as foreigners. Of these, 20,613 are Hindu, 27,309 are Muslim, and six belong to other religions.

According to state government data, among the 27,309 Muslims declared as illegal immigrants by the foreign tribunals, 4,182 are from Jorhat district, 3,897 from Guwahati city, 2,829 from Dibrugarh district, 2,100 from Hojai district, 2,096 from Sivasagar district, 2,083 from Nagaon district, 2,013 from Cachar district, 1,710 from Lakhimpur district, and 1,172 from Morigaon district.

Among the total 20,613 Hindus declared as illegal immigrants by the foreign tribunals, 8,139 are from Cachar district, 2,884 from Guwahati city, 1,574 from Lakhimpur district, and 1,038 from Dibrugarh district.

Citing the 2011 Census, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Assamese-speaking people constitute 48.38 percent of the state’s total population of 31.2 million, while Bengali-speaking people make up 28.92 percent of the total population.”