6 days ago
‘We are from West Bengal, why do police think we're Bangladeshis?': Verification drive in Gurgaon sparks panic among migrant community
'Hum log bangali bolte hain toh Bangladeshi ban gaye kya (If we speak Bengali, does that make us Bangladeshi)?' said Chavi Bibi (39) as she stared at the 'holding centre' where her husband has been kept for at least the last three days.
'Two days ago, I managed to get a glimpse of him but then they closed the gates/windows,' she added.
Like Bibi's husband, several people — mostly men — have been rounded up by the police as part of a 'routine verification' drive to identify Bangladeshis and Rohingya living illegally in the city. The move has sparked fear among the migrant community from Bengal, many of whom work as labourers, cooks or domestic help. Several have left the city or are preparing to leave.
The 'holding centre' is inside a community centre in Sector 40. The rain has turned the path to the gate muddy. Along the boundary walls are a few policemen — some sit on chairs, others are making rounds.
Asked why people are being rounded up, one of the police officers said, 'It is a routine check. All the facilities are there inside — food, water and shelter. They will be let go once the checks are complete.'
Bibi recounted how her husband was picked up.
'They came around 2 pm a week ago when we were eating. They did not even let him change into proper clothes. They did not tell us where he was for three days. Then I got a call from him saying he was in Badshahpur, then Sohna, then Subhash Chowk, then here. He was picked up because he had two Aadhaar cards, one with an updated address as he had to link it to a bank account here.'
The family said they are from Malda in West Bengal. Bibi works as a cook in homes while her husband does odd jobs including dog walking. The couple has two kids, daughters aged 17 and 9.
Bibi alleged they were asked by the police if they got married in Bangladesh. 'Our sarpanch back home called me saying they have asked for verification about your husband.. We have all the documents.'
A police spokesperson said that eight Bangladeshis have been detected in the exercise so far, who will be deported.
An emptying slum
At the slum in the Gada market area, behind Nirvana Country and DPS International School, in Sector 50, things are more grim.
Mehta Ali, 50, originally from Dakshin Dinajpur district, said migrant workers like him have lived here for at least three years.
'Pura darr ka mahaul hain (There is fear in the air). 150 of us have already left for home (West Bengal). I have also booked train tickets for my family and I; we will leave today. Though no one was detained from here, but still…'
The police came once at 2 pm Tuesday, he added.
Videos doing the rounds of some of those detained being allegedly beaten up have added to the fear.
'Have we come here to get beaten? We came here looking for work, not to fight over our documentary proof. We stay awake all night now, alert. My brother-in-law has been detained for nine days,' Farukh Sarkar, 26, said.
The slum's male residents are masons and labourers, while women are domestic help.
'What kind of law and order is this?' Sarkar added, slamming the wooden pole keeping the roof steady in frustration.
Another resident said the raids have affected their children too.
'We were first taken to a community centre near Shani Mandir, then a station. If there is even one typo in our documents, they tag us Bangladeshi. For three days, our children have not gone to school once we got to know our community is being targeted,' said Dholu Mia, 42.
A resident of a housing society nearby, whose help lived in the area, said, 'My domestic help was taken into custody along with her husband Tuesday. She has a differently abled son, she cannot just vacate so easily.'
At the Yadav Chaupal area in Sector 28 in Chakkarpur, Adam Ali (38) was picked up late Sunday night, and released early Wednesday morning.
'Even though we had Aadhaar cards, they questioned and held us for three days, including at the Sector 40 community centre.'
Mansoora Khatun, 32, and Tumpa Bibi, 30, whose male family members were detained, said they haven't been able to rest peacefully at night. 'When we are from West Bengal, why do the police think we are Bangladeshis? We are simple labourers and domestic workers here,' they say.
Official speak
According to the police spokesperson: 'We received directives from the Union Home Ministry for the verification exercise of suspected foreigners living illegally. We are verifying documents and antecedents of people from their local District Magistrate concerned.'
'No genuine citizens need to fear or flee the city to their home state, there is no need to panic,' the spokesperson added.
He also denied the allegations of alleged violence against those held. 'We have CCTVs at all the holding centres and stations where they are being questioned. We have not received any complaint from any family member or those held.'
Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) Dr Arpit Jain said due process is being thoroughly followed throughout. 'This is an all-India exercise. Many have already been released promptly after swift verification.'
Gurgaon MLA and BJP leader Mukesh Sharma supported the verification drive, given the law and order issue. 'Rohingya have negatively affected the law and order situation in Gurgaon, we all know. They set up jhuggis (here) and their numbers increase, they have a system to get documents made.'
When asked about domestic help who are genuine citizens belonging to West Bengal being picked up, he said, 'See, as directions have come from the (Union) government, we have to support the drive. The government and police are working based on their intel; let the checking be thorough.'
