In a significant development, a woman from Assam who was earlier declared a “foreigner” and detained has now been granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA), bringing an end to her prolonged legal struggle.
The woman, identified as Dipali Das, had previously been declared a foreigner by a tribunal and was sent to a detention centre following an investigation by the Assam Border Police. The case dates back to 2013, when the police initiated an inquiry alleging that she was originally from Baniachong in Bangladesh and had entered India illegally after March 25, 1971.
Based on the police report, the Foreigners’ Tribunal declared her a foreign national. As a result, she spent time in detention while continuing to challenge the ruling through legal means.
In a turn of events, her lawyer later used the same police chargesheet as part of the documentation to apply for citizenship under the provisions of the CAA. The application was accepted, and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs subsequently issued her a Certificate of Naturalisation, officially granting her Indian citizenship.
Legal experts believe Das may be among the first individuals in Assam who had earlier been declared a foreigner and detained but later obtained citizenship through the CAA.
Her lawyer described the decision as a major relief for the family after years of uncertainty and legal hardship. With the citizenship certificate now issued, the status of her family members, particularly her children born in India, is also expected to gain greater clarity.
The CAA, enacted in 2019, provides a fast-track route to Indian citizenship for non-Muslim minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.
The case has drawn attention in Assam, a state where issues surrounding migration, citizenship verification, and tribunal proceedings have long remained sensitive and politically significant.
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