Kin of Assam agitation martyr called up by foreigners tribunal

GUWAHATI: Family members of Madan Mallick, one of the martyrs of the Assam agitation, received a notice from the foreigners tribunal declaring them foreigners.

BJP MLA from Hojai, Shiladitya Dev told ET, “This family from Nagaon received a notice from foreigners tribunal and accordingly, they appeared before the tribunal.”

He said, “Mallick was a martyr of Assam agitation and is among the 855 martyrs of Assam agitation. How can someone who himself fought against the foreigner be branded as a foreigner?”


The All Assam Students Union (AASU) led a six year long anti-foreigner movement from 1979-1983, which culminated in the Assam Accord.

Dev said that among the 855 martyrs, there were at least 34 Bengali-speaking people. “However, today is saddening. Nobody is here to stand by the family of martyrs.”

He said, “I advised the family members to appear before the tribunal with all the relevant papers and accordingly, they appeared. I even asked, if they are sent to jail they must go and let the people of Assam know how those who fought against foreigners are treated in Assam. Are these people branded as foreigners just because of their surname?”

There are 100 numbers of Foreigners Tribunal functioning in Assam. The Assam government announced that as many as 400 new foreigners tribunals will be set up soon.