This article explores how these detention centres act as ‘sites of exception’ and push individuals towards rightlessness, leaving those labelled stateless with scant rights to shield from the questionable treatment.
Authors
Deepanshu Mohan, Professor of Economics and Director, Centre for New Economics Studies, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.
Samragnee Chakraborty, Senior Research Analyst, Centre for New Economics Studies.
Yashovardhan Chaturvedi, Research Assistant, Centre for New Economics Studies.
Hima Trisha M., Senior Research Analyst, Centre for New Economics Studies.
Nitya Arora, Research Assistant, Centre for New Economics Studies.
Rieshav Chakraborty, Research Assistant, Centre for New Economics Studies.
Aman Chain, Research Assistant, Centre for New Economics Studies.
Summary
The completion of construction and the commencement of operations at India’s largest detention centre, the Matia transit camp in Goalpara district earlier this year, sparked a public outcry among the people of Assam.
At the risk of detention are individuals suspected to be illegal migrants from Bangladesh, categorised as foreigners, doubtful voters and people excluded from the NRC (National Register of Citizens) list.
Due to the contentious issue of the citizenship crisis in Assam, detention centres have been operational in the state since 2010. Assam’s detention centres have consistently raised humanitarian concerns.
The right to liberty, a non-negotiable aspect of human rights, is impeded by detention and arbitrary arrest. Furthermore, the sub-human and morally questionable treatment of the detainees within these clandestine facilities, strips them of their basic human rights.
The Centre for New Economics Studies’ Azaad Awaaz team conducted primary field interviews to unpack how these detention centres in Assam work.
This article explores how these detention centres act as ‘sites of exception’ and push individuals towards rightlessness, leaving those labelled stateless with scant rights to shield from the questionable treatment. The name of the interviewee has been changed to maintain confidentiality.
Published in: The Wire
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