06, Nov 2018 | Zamser Ali

Illegally framed as a “foreigner”, Ratan Chandra Biswas, is handcuffed in the Goalpara hospital Civil Hospital, battling for his life. Emaciated and shivering, his condition is bitter testimony to the ghastly conditions in Assam’s six detention camps, where over 2,000 persons are estimated to be incarcerated.

Guwahati, November 4: Ratan Chandra Biswas, framed as a “foreigner” by a farce of a hearing a Foreigner’s Tribunal and dumped inside a Detention Camp is today struggling for life in a hospital. Pathetically he has been chained to the bed with handcuffs, exposing gross human rights violations within detention camps.

The CJP team, drawing from its previous experience in providing legal aid in Gujarat, has stepped in with a multi-faceted team of volunteers to ensure that these people receive a fair chance while filing claims across 18 of the worst affected districts. We want to help people reclaim their rights as citizens. We aim to scale up our campaign and for that we need your support. Your contribution can help cover the costs of travel, documentation and technological expenses and eventually legal expenses. Please donate generously here

Images of this trembling and emaciated Survivor of Assam’s ongoing humanitarian crisis has evinced a strong reaction in Assam.

Ratan Chandra Biswas, son of Ananda Chandra Biswas is a Dalit Bengali Hindu. He received a Doubtful Foreigners notice about two years and eight months back. A resident of Gerukabari Village under Manikpur Police Station of Bongaigaon District, he panicked. This is the plight of thousands who are served these notices, capricious as they follow no due process at all.

After receiving this Doubtful Foreigners notice, he had, through a ‘middle man’ communicated  to the local Police Station. He paid Rs 500 for the favour, anxious to get to the bottom of the obviously false allegation. There was no help or clarity forthcoming  and after three months he was arrested and sent to the Goalpara Detention Camp.

At the time of detention, he had no health complaints. His condition however started deteriorating soon after detention. Finally after prolonged illnesses he was admitted to the Goalpara Civil Hospital. He was handcuffed through his treatment.

A shivering and traumatised Ratan Chandra Biswas said, on video, to CJP’s sister concern Sabrang India, “I have studied up to class six. My grandfather’s name is in the 1966 Voters list. There is a small piece of land in my father’s name. Though I am an Indian Citizen, I have been forced inside a detention camp for the last 2 years and five months.’

This is the very latest visible and concrete story of the horrific conditions prevalent inside Assam’s detention camps.

The Videos may be viewed here.

Related:

CJP in Action: Volunteer Motivators and Public Campaigns in Assam

CJP in Action: CJP Volunteer Motivators helping people file NRC claims in Assam

CJP’s Volunteer Motivators reach out in Assam

CJP in Action: Our attempt to avert a Humanitarian Crisis in Assam

CJP in Action: Words of encouragement pour in as CJP’s NRC helpline rings off the hook