Guwahati: As many as 68 ‘foreigners’ were transferred to a newly built ‘detention centre’ in Assam’s Goalpara, a source in Assam government said Saturday.
This marks the beginning of a proposed phase-wise transfer of alleged foreigners to Matia Transit Camp in Goalpara, 150 km east of Guwahati.
As per the source, the camp is the state’s first centre to exclusively house illegal foreigners, built as per guidelines laid down by the Centre.
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Until now, the detainees have been lodged in six detention centres across Assam — all inside jails.
The batch of 68 people consists of 45 men, 21 women and two children, informed the source.
The government source said those who have been moved to the detention center –now officially known as ‘transit camp’– include both people declared ‘foreigners’ by Foreigner Tribunal (quasi-judicial body) in Assam as well as those convicted by judicial courts for violating visa provisions.
The official source said that the remaining foreigners detained in jails would be shifted gradually to the Matia Transit Camp. This has been done as per the orders of the Gauhati High Court in August and November 2022.
–Agencies