India deports hundreds Muslims to Bangladesh amid rights backlash

India has deported hundreds of people, predominantly Bengali-speaking Muslims, to Bangladesh without trial, drawing widespread condemnation from human rights activists and legal experts who label the actions illegal and ethnically motivated. The deportations follow a broader security crackdown after a deadly attack blamed on Pakistan in Indian-administered Kashmir, resulting in thousands detained and many forcibly pushed across the border at gunpoint. Indian authorities claim these individuals are undocumented migrants, but reports and testimonies, including that of Rahima Begum from Assam, reveal many deported are Indian citizens with proof of citizenship. The Hindu nationalist government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long held a hardline stance against immigration from Muslim-majority Bangladesh, with officials using inflammatory language such as "termites" and "infiltrators" to describe migrants. This campaign has instilled existential fear among India's estimated 200 million Muslims, especially those in eastern states where Bengali is widely spoken. Relations between India and Bangladesh have also deteriorated since a 2024 uprising toppled Dhaka's government, complicating border and migration issues further.