Demand for Urgent Action Following Disappearance of Women Across India-Bangladesh Border
Guwahati, Assam: Gaurav Gogoi, the President of the Assam Congress and Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, has formally requested the Ministry of External Affairs to take immediate action in locating two women from Assam who went missing after allegedly being sent across the border to Bangladesh in June.
Case Background
The missing individuals, Musstt. Jahanara Begum and Musstt. Mumtaz Begum, from the Nagaon district, were reportedly sent over the India-Bangladesh border during the night of June 13-14. Their disappearance came after a complex legal struggle, with both women previously declared foreigners in 2019 by a Foreigners Tribunal in Nagaon.
Legal Proceedings and Government Response
In April 2026, the Gauhati High Court overturned their previous classifications, demonstrating a need for retrial based on insufficient consideration of crucial evidence. Following this, both women appeared before the Tribunal in late May but were soon taken into custody.
Gogoi highlighted that they were not given an adequate opportunity to challenge their cases, emphasizing that the court had noted instances of malice in law regarding the treatment of both women. The court’s orders from September showed serious concern about the handling of these cases and flagged delays in official processes that hindered their legal rights.
Current Plea for Assistance
In a direct appeal to the External Affairs Minister, Gogoi stressed the need for intervention, pointing out that the Ministry has been actively involved due to the ongoing high court proceedings. He urged for immediate engagement with both the Government of Bangladesh and Indian diplomatic posts in Dhaka and Sylhet to facilitate the women’s safe return.
Gogoi specifically requested:
- Expedited efforts to coordinate with Bangladeshi authorities to locate the women.
- Provision of consular assistance and necessary travel documentation for their return, while ensuring families are kept in the loop regarding progress.
Community Concern
As months have passed since their disappearance, the families of Jahanara and Mumtaz remain anxious, having persistently searched for their loved ones. Gogoi expressed that this situation calls for immediate resolution, asserting “two families in Nagaon should not be left in despair, mourning the loss of their daughter, mother, and wife, when state actions led to their current predicament.”
This urgent appeal brings to the forefront the broader implications of state measures regarding citizenship and the pressing need for ethical handling of such sensitive cases.
