In a new trend, declared foreigner jumps bail

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: While there were several instances of illegal immigrants going into hiding to evade arrest by the police after being declared as foreign nationals by various Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) of the state, a new tactic has come to the notice of the government – that of a declared foreigner staying in transit camps (detention centres) absconding after obtaining bail.

After the outbreak of Covid19 in 2020, the Supreme Court had passed an order that detenues in various transit camps should be released on bail upon fulfillment of certain conditions. Till the first part of September last, as many as 779 detenues obtained bail as per the Supreme Court's order. As on September last, there were just 195 detenues left in various transit camps who had not obtained bail. One of the conditions laid down by the apex court was that after obtaining bail, the detenue concerned would have to appear at the local police station once a week. However, it has recently come to light one detenue – a woman named Hazera Khatoon of the Biswanath district – stopped appearing at the local police station concerned and has absconded instead. Although one absconder among over 700 detenues may seem insignificant, but the government is taking the development seriously because this may set a trend among other detenues who are out on bail.

It may be mentioned that the detenues declared as foreigners in FT cases are being housed in transit camps set up in six jails of the state – at Tezpur, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kokrajhar and Goalpara.

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