HRW: India Expels 1,500 Bengali Muslims Without Process

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Indian authorities of unlawfully expelling over 1,500 Bengali-speaking Muslims, including some Indian citizens, to Bangladesh between May 7 and June 15, 2025, without due process. HRW and critics allege these expulsions, primarily in BJP-ruled states, are part of broader discriminatory policies targeting Muslims and are politically motivated ahead of upcoming elections. Reports indicate that many deported individuals, including women and children, faced threats, violence, destruction of identity documents, and were at times forced to cross the border at gunpoint. The Indian government asserts the actions target undocumented immigrants, but HRW argues legal safeguards and due process were ignored. Authorities have yet to provide official data or respond to HRW’s findings. The incident has prompted widespread condemnation, with rights groups and political leaders calling for an immediate halt to arbitrary detentions and expulsions.