The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as racial discrimination against Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, flagging exclusions during the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process, forced evictions, hate speech, and alleged excessive use of force by law-enforcement agencies.
In a letter dated January 19, 2026, addressed to India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, CERD said it regretted the “lack of information” provided by the Indian government in response to an earlier communication sent on May 12, 2025, which sought clarification on alleged rights violations faced by the community in the northeastern state.
The Committee acknowledged India’s response regarding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, noting the government’s claim that the legislative framework does not prevent eligible foreigners from applying for Indian citizenship through registration or naturalisation. However, it said this response failed to address core allegations of discriminatory practices during the NRC update.
“Non-original inhabitants”
CERD expressed concern over reports that Bengali-speaking Muslims were disproportionately excluded from Assam’s final NRC list due to “procedural irregularities and administrative shortcomings.” These included difficulties in procuring legacy documents, stricter verification standards, and the classification of many residents as “non-original inhabitants” — a term the Committee noted lacks a clear legal definition.
The Committee also flagged the suspension of Foreigners’ Tribunal proceedings during the NRC update, which allegedly prevented those marked as “doubtful voters” from contesting their status, effectively barring them from inclusion in the citizenship register.
Civil rights groups have long argued that these processes placed an unequal burden on Bengali-speaking Muslims, many of whom are economically marginalised and historically displaced by floods and erosion along the Brahmaputra River.
The UN body said it was troubled by allegations that the Assam government has carried out systematic forced evictions targeting Bengali-speaking Muslim families across several districts, without providing adequate alternative housing or compensation.
Over the past few years, eviction drives framed by state authorities as anti-encroachment measures have displaced thousands, often citing environmental protection or land reclamation. Rights organisations, however, say these actions have disproportionately affected Muslim communities and were conducted in violation of international human rights standards.
CERD further noted the absence of information from the Indian government regarding allegations of a rise in hate speech and incitement to violence against Bengali-speaking Muslims, particularly during the 2024 national elections in Assam. The Committee also referenced claims of violent attacks by civilians and organised groups in mid-2024, which allegedly endangered the safety and fundamental rights of the community.
The letter additionally raised concerns over the excessive and lethal use of force by law-enforcement agencies, resulting in recurrent killings and injuries, and said it had not received sufficient details on investigations, prosecutions, or accountability mechanisms.
Invoking Article 9(1) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Committee has asked India to provide detailed information on steps taken to address these allegations during the presentation of its 20th and 21st periodic reports.
