Anand: A man from Gujarat’s Anand district has urged the state government not to deport his Bangladeshi-born wife, claiming that she has converted to Hinduism and that her life could be in danger if she is sent back to her country of origin.
The case came to light amid ‘Operation Delta Hunt’, a state-wide crackdown launched by the Gujarat Police against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. The woman was arrested about two weeks ago for allegedly living in India without valid documents.
According to figures released by the state Director General of Police’s office, more than 600 Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested across Gujarat so far this month for allegedly living illegally in the country. Nearly 60 of them were arrested in Anand district.
Among those arrested is a woman, identified by her husband as Kajal, who allegedly entered India illegally about a decade ago and later married Tarun Patel, a resident of Anand.
Patel, a resident of Lambville village, said he met Kajal, when she was living in Bangladesh, through Facebook in 2012 and 2013, and the two gradually fell in love.
Speaking to reporters, Patel claimed that Kajal tried to get a passport in Bangladesh so that the couple could get married legally, but failed to get it. He said she faced pressure from her family to marry someone else, and eventually entered India illegally and reached Anand.
“We have been living together as husband and wife since then and have two children, one who is eight and the other who is two,” Patel said.
According to him, the couple got married according to Hindu rituals after Kajal arrived in India. He claimed that she had adopted Hindu customs and visited temples regularly.
Patel said his wife was recently arrested by the local crime branch in Anand after authorities discovered that she was living in India without valid documents. He added that deportation proceedings against her are now underway.
Through an appeal to Gujarat Minister of State for Home Affairs, Harsh Sanghavi, Patil urged the authorities not to deport his wife on humanitarian grounds.
“She has adopted Hinduism and her family may not accept her return. I fear that her life is in danger there because of extremist elements. What will happen to our two children if they are separated from their mother?” He said.
Patel said that his wife entered India illegally only because she wanted to marry him and live with him.
“We are ready to comply with any legal process required to obtain Indian citizenship. My request is that she not be deported and that her case be considered sympathetically,” he said.
The family claimed that Kajal is currently staying in a women’s shelter awaiting further action. Her husband claimed that their children have not been able to meet their mother since her arrest nearly two weeks ago.
Dayan, the couple’s eldest son, also appealed to the authorities to release his mother. Diane said that he cannot live without his mother and she must be released as soon as possible.
This case comes amid intensified action by the Gujarat Police against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants under Operation Delta Hunt.
Superintendent of Police Anand JJ Jasani was not available for comment.
Inspector General of Police, Ahmedabad District, Raghavendra Vatsa, told PTI that he was not aware of the specific case.
“I am not aware of this matter. I will comment only after getting the details from Anand SP,” Vatsa said.
