Watch: ‘Pushed’ into Bangladesh at gunpoint, two Assam residents return to narrate their ordeal

As part of a sweeping crackdown on declared foreigners, the Assam government has forcibly pushed back over 300 people since May—many of whom claim they are Indian citizens.

Most belong to the Bengali-origin Muslim community, long vilified as foreigners despite generations of residence in the state.

Ufa Ali (68) from Morigaon district was picked up by Assam Police on May 23, while Shona Bhanu (59) from Barpeta was detained two days later, on May 25. They were taken to the police station and detained.

What followed was a harrowing journey that ended with them being pushed across the Bangladesh border at gunpoint.

Scroll travelled to Assam to hear their stories.

“We were made to travel all night,” Ufa Ali recalled. “They took us to a BSF camp where we were given food. After food, everyone was handed 200 taka. We asked, ‘Why are you giving us Bangladeshi currency?’ They said, ‘You will need this.’ That’s when we realised what was about to happen.”

Both spent two nights at the Matia Detention Centre before being taken to a remote border crossing in the dead of night. Trapped in no man’s land between India and Bangladesh, they were caught in a terrifying standoff.

“They were readying the guns. We thought they would kill us,” Ali said....

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