Former Army soldier detained in Assam after being declared ‘foreigner’ granted bail

The Gauhati High Court on Friday granted bail to Mohammad Sanaullah, the retired Indian army personnel who was declared an illegal immigrant by a tribunal and sent to detention centre, according to a report. The court also issued a notice to the Centre and the Assam government following a petition by Sanaulla. The high court also sent notices to National Register of Citizens (NRC) authorities and investigation officer of the Assam Border Police Chandramal Das.

Noted Supreme Court lawyer Indira Jaising appeared in court on behalf of Mohammad Sanaulla.

On Thursday, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi expressed concern over the detention of retired subedar and decorated Kargil War veteran Mohammad Sanaullah and sought Home Minister Amit Shah's intervention to get him relief.

In a letter to Shah, Gogoi said Sanaullah has been in a detention centre after a foreigners tribunal in Assam declared him as foreigner on May 28.

"I write to you to express my concern over the detention... I sincerely want relief for former Army officer Mohammad Sanaullah and the process should be correct where only genuine Indian citizens find security and foreigners excluded," he said.

The MP from Assam's Kaliabor said many media reports indicated inefficiency on the part of government officials involved in the case.

After his retirement from the Army, Sanaullah was working as Assistant Sub Inspector in the Assam Police (Border).

Sanaullah, who had won a president's medal, was declared a foreigner by the Foreigners Tribunal, Kamrup, following a case registered in 2008 after his name was listed as a "D" (doubtful) voter.

Sanaullah is presently lodged at the Goalpara detention centre and his family has decided to move the Gauhati High Court against the order.