Guwahati: Around 2,100 illegal foreign nationals have been deported, sent back or expelled from Assam over the past decade, the state govt informed the assembly on Wednesday. Of them, 2,023 were sent to Bangladesh, while others were repatriated to Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine and a few African countries.Replying to a question from Congress MLA Abdur Rahim Ahmed, Assam Accord implementation minister Atul Bora said in a written reply that 2,089 illegal foreigners were deported, sent back or expelled from the state between 2016 and June 30, 2026.According to Bora, 2,023 were sent back to Bangladesh, 39 to Myanmar and 18 to Nigeria. Two each were deported to Afghanistan, Ukraine and Russia, and one each was repatriated to Pakistan, Kenya and Uganda.The highest number of deportations was recorded last year, when 1,811 illegal foreigners were removed from Assam. All but one were sent to Bangladesh, while one was deported to Nigeria. The second-highest figure was reported the year before, when 263 people were deported or repatriated — 261 to Bangladesh and two to Russia.In response to another question from Congress MLA Baby Begum, Bora said the BSF is using advanced surveillance technology, floating observation posts, CCTV and PTZ cameras, boat patrols and the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System,or CIBMS, to secure unfenced riverine stretches along the Assam-Bangladesh border and prevent infiltration. He added that fencing along a 4.35-km stretch of the Kushiyara River in Sribhumi district could not be built due to objections from Border Guard Bangladesh,or BGB, but the area remains under regular BSF patrol. Border fencing falls under the Union ministry of home affairs.On the question of who is an “Assamese” person raised by the Congress MLA, Bora said that discussions are still going on to finalise the definition. “The issue of defining ‘Assamese’ is highly important and sensitive. Discussions regarding this matter are ongoing with various nationalist organisations and relevant stakeholders. The govt will take the necessary decision at an appropriate time after considering the opinions of all parties, the recommendations of the High-Level Committee headed by Justice (Retired) Biplab Kumar Sharma, and the legal aspects,” Bora said.Bora added that the govt has taken measures to implement the recommendations of the High-Level Committee formed for Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, which seeks constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect and promote the cultural, social and linguistic identity and heritage of Assamese people.Replying to a separate query from Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi on constitutional safeguards and the religion-wise breakup of identified foreigners, Bora told the House that Assam identified 1,72,673 foreigners as of May 31. Of them, 1,11,414 were Muslims, 61,189 were Hindus, and the rest were Christians or belonged to other faiths.
