Foreigners’ Tribunal again summons 102 year old man to appear before it

It was indeed shocking news for many when 102 years old Chandradhar Das, a resident of Borai Basti under Dholai constituency in the Amraghat area of Cachar district and who possessed a citizenship card of 1966, was declared foreigner by an ex parte judgement of the tribunal on 2 January. Ultimately, Das was put in the detention camp on 31 March after he failed to appear before the tribunal court and furnish the required documents to prove his Indian citizenship.

The old man inflicted with multiple old age ailments like hearing disability and memory loss spent nearly three months in the detention camp inside Silchar Central Jail before being moved to Silchar Medical College owing to his deteriorating health. Thanks to the Barak valley-based Unconditional Citizenship Demand Forum (UCDF), who after meeting with S. Lakshmanan, Deputy Commissioner of Cachar helped Das to shift to Medical College for treatment. The feeble Chandradhar Das was later on granted bail on humanitarian ground.

The tale of misery for the 102 years old man does not end here. His daughter Niyoti Roy has said that her father Chandradhar Das has been asked to appear before the Foreigners Tribunal on 14 August to prove his citizenship, yet again. Niyoti feels it is inhumane to call an ailing old man repeatedly. While describing their ordeal, Chandradhar’s daughter said that her father with his ailing health finds it very difficult to travel 80 kilometers twice a month or more to appear before Foreigners’’ Tribunal 6 at Silchar from their house. They are also not financially sound to book a cab every time. So they are bound to resort to public transport to reach the court. Niyoti Roy, further stated that the health of her father deteriorates every time he come back from court, mostly due to the pressure of the journey.

The family of Chandradhar Das (102 years) comprises of his ailing wife Adorini Das (80 years), his son Gauranga Das and daughter Niyoti Das who who is separated from her husband. Tears paved way through the eyes of Niyoti while she was describing their ordeal before the media. However, Soumen Choudhury, the lawyer of Chandradhar Das expressed optimism that 14 August will be the final appearance and the court will give its verdict in his favour when he will be freed from charges of D-voter. Kamal Chakraborty, a member of Unconditional Citizenship Demand Forum (UCDF) claims that many from the economically  weaker sections are serving imprisonment in such detention camps across Assam after being declared ex parte foreigner as they cannot hire lawyers.

Only time can testify the fate of people like 102 years old Chandradhar Das. Faith in the law of the land is the only ray of hope for people like him.