Dispur: In an unprecedented move, the Assam government has enforced the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, directing five individuals—declared foreigners earlier this year—to exit Indian territory within 24 hours. This marks the first recorded use of the Act since the state cabinet cleared its implementation earlier in 2025.
The Sonitpur district administration issued the expulsion notices on Tuesday. However, police officials say the five persons, identified as residents of Dhobokata village in Sonitpur, cannot be traced. According to local villagers, the group abandoned the area nearly ten years ago and has not lived there since.
The individuals—four women and one man, reportedly belonging to two families—were declared foreigners by Sonitpur’s Foreigners Tribunal No. 2. Although the cases were originally referred by the Border Police in 2006, the tribunal delivered its verdicts only this year.
Deputy Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das, who signed the notices, stated in the orders that the presence of the five “Declared Foreigners” posed a threat to public interest and the state’s internal security. Citing provisions of the 1950 Act, the administration instructed them to leave India through the Dhubri/Sribhumi/South Salmara-Mankachar route, which connects to Bangladesh.
The orders warn that failure to comply would result in the government taking the necessary steps to remove them from Assam.
A police team visited Dhobokata on Thursday, but the group was not found. “All five individuals are currently untraceable. We believe they are absconding. Efforts are underway to locate them, and once they are found, action will be taken strictly in accordance with the law,” said Barun Purkayastha, Senior Superintendent of Police, Sonitpur.
