No Eid For Family Of Kargil War Veteran Who Has Been Declared 'Foreigner' By Assam Tribunal

When the whole country is celebrating Eid after a month-long fast during the holy month of Ramzan, the family of Kargil war veteran Honourary Captain (retd), Mohammed Sanaullah isn¡¯t celebrating the festival as Sanaullah had been declared a ¡®foreigner¡¯ by the tribunal and was sent to a detention centre despite serving in the Indian Army for 30 years. The wife of ex-army man, Sanima Begum is not celebrating Eid as her husband was sent to detention centre.

The tribunal is a quasi-judicial body that hears the cases of people who are apprehended in suspicion of being illegal immigrants in Assam and the 52-year-old Sanaullah failed to prove his identity as an Indian before the tribunal. He was detained by Border Organisation of Assam police, the same organisation; he was employed with after he retired from the army.

¡°I observed ¡®roja¡¯ (religious fast) for the past month but while others celebrated Eid there was nothing for us to celebrate. My husband is in detention and we are at home. We just offered prayers to Allah for his well being and quick return,¡± Begum told Hindustan Times.

The family has filed a writ petition in Gauhati High Court challenging the order of the tribunal and family is now resting its hopes on the high court as hearing is on June 7.

Eid celebrations in New Delhi, AP

¡°We were planning elaborate celebrations for Eid this time. I was expecting him to be released before Eid, but it is not in my fortune. We haven¡¯t cooked anything at home. A neighbour sent some eatables, but no one feels like eating¡± said Begum with tears in her eyes.

In ex-soldier¡¯s family, there are five members with the couple and three children which include two daughters and a son.