Declared Foreigner in 2019, Now an Indian Citizen: Bangladeshi Woman Gets Citizenship Under CAA in Assam

A woman from Bangladesh, who was once declared foreigner and was sentenced to detention camp for two years, has been granted Indian citizenship under CAA, marking another such incident in recent times.

The woman, a 60 year old identified as Dipali Das, has been living in Dholai Hawaithang in Cachar district. She entered India with her family in 1988 illegally and had been living in the area since then.

In February 2025, Dipali Das applied for Indian Citizenship through the CAA portal. Her application was approved and she was granted Indian citizenship by the central govt.

Silchar-based advocate Dharmananda Deb, who assisted her in the legal process, described the development as a significant and historic moment. He stated that in 2019, the Foreigners Tribunal had declared Dipali Das a foreigner. Following the tribunal’s order, she was detained for nearly two years at the detention camp in Silchar Central Jail.

She spent two years in detention camp and then was released followed by an order from Gauhati High Court. Subsequently, in February 2025, she applied for citizenship under the CAA through the official portal, which has now been approved by the concerned authorities.

According to information available, six Bangladeshi nationals in Assam have so far received Indian citizenship under the CAA, and all of them are residents of Cachar district.

The case has once again drawn attention to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in Assam and its implications for individuals previously declared foreigners. 

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