Cannot live like this, says West Bengal man detained again in ‘illegal immigrants’ drive

Cannot live like this, notes West Bengal man detained again in 'illegal immigrants' drive Every time someone asks us where we are from, our fear cannot be described.

Key points

• While he obtained relief in a previous case of detention on August 4, 2026, he was again detained during Operation Mukta on August 8.
• This person remains unknown even after 11 months, created a Bangladeshi identity card in his name, claiming that he was a citizen of Bangladesh living in India.
• Within 11 months, Rafikul remarked the constant harassment and stress provided him two heart attacks.
• After the court's order, Rafikul thought he would be saved from having to prove his citizenship again.
• Where I belong, only men can work and women are not allowed to leave their homes without their husbands.

Four days after the High Court of Karnataka held that the EPIC (voter card) issued to him after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal was "genuine", Rafikul Biswas, 32. This person had been framed as an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant living in Bengaluru, identified himself in jail again when the Bengaluru City police introduced "Operation Mukta", a drive against illegal immigrants.

While he obtained relief in a previous case of detention on August 4, 2026, he was again detained during Operation Mukta on August 8. "I consistently pleaded with the police, showing a copy of the High Court order that had quashed my case. It is better I die. I cannot live under this pressure and stress to prove that I am an Indian, " he remarked. He was finally published after activists persuaded the police concerning the recent High Court order, the same day.

Originally from Nadia district in West Bengal and living in Bengaluru for the last 12 years with his wife and daughter, Rafikul notes he has been targeted by the city police. The claims took shape after someone. This person remains unknown even after 11 months, created a Bangladeshi identity card in his name, claiming that he was a citizen of Bangladesh living in India. What followed was consistent harassment and pressure that he would be deported to Bangladesh, he recalled.

Within 11 months, Rafikul remarked the constant harassment and stress provided him two heart attacks. After which he was issued on medical grounds due to the health emergency and taken to Jayadeva Hospital for treatment, one occurred while he was in jail.

After the court's order, Rafikul thought he would be saved from having to prove his citizenship again. When the Trinamool Congress was in power, and a thorough investigation of his family history, the court proceedings involved the intervention of the then West Bengal administration.

"After showing all possible documents, getting beaten up a number of times, and receiving the High Court order, I believed this would never happen again, but within days, the Bandepalya police came for me again, " he remarked.

"I was working as a school bus driver for a private school, and everything was fine until the allegations surfaced and someone created the fake ID. I was removed from my job. Since then, I have been collecting scrap and earning my living."

"Where I belong, only men can work and women are not allowed to leave their homes without their husbands. The payment isn't fair too. We came to Bengaluru so that both my wife and I could earn our meals and our daughter could study. But now, we are scared to live here, " Rafikul remarked.

"Every time someone asks us where we are from, our fear cannot be described. Once you say West Bengal and if you're a Muslim, the instant reply is, 'Go to Bangladesh'. What does it take to prove that we are Indians?" he questioned.

Taken together, the developments around cannot live like this, says West Bengal man detained again in 'illegal point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.