Bengali Muslim children who have fled back to West Bengal face an uncertain future

“I want to go back to Delhi and attend school there,” said Selima Khatun who, until July 24, 2025, was in Class 5 of a school in Delhi’s Rohini. A Bengali Muslim from Paikar village in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, Khatun is now back with her grandparents.

In July, Delhi Police had detained several members of her family on charges of being Bangadeshis living illegally in India. Katun’s mother Karishma Khatun managed to escape with her and niece, Afreen Khatun. Afreen Khatun’s parents, Sunali Khatun and Danish Sheikh, and brother Sabir Sheikh, were arrested and allegedly sent to Bangladesh.

Afreen should be in Class 2 and Selima in Class 5 but at present, both are out of school. Caught up in the spate of violence and police action against Bengali Muslims – labelled “foreigner” – in different parts of India but notably in Delhi-NCR, the family has been unable to trace Sabir Sheikh, who, according to Karishma, should be in Class 4.

Now, Afreen and Selima Khatun are in Kolkata but out of school. “All of us are from Paikar Village, here in Birbhum. Our parents also belong to this village. We have our Aadhar card, voter ID and PAN card,” said Karishma Khatun, “we’ve never been to Bangladesh, how can we become Bangladeshi?”

Children of labourers

Selima and Afreen Khatun and Sabir Sheikh were all born in Delhi and were enrolled in a government school in Rohini. Their parents were all migrant workers. Danish Sheikh worked as a rag-picker and Sunali Khatun worked as a cleaner and a cook.

Karishma Khatun earned around Rs 5,000 per month. A single parent, Karishma is the sole provider for Selima who aspires to be a teacher or a doctor.

“I have to go back to Delhi. These problems should end, otherwise I will not be able to study. I don't know how to read or write in Bangla. How will I study in an entirely new language here?’ asked Selima. All children had been studying in Hindi-medium in Delhi. Afreen just wants her mother back.

Despite the traumatic experience, Karishma Khatun is also considering a return to Delhi. “There is no one in our village who can pay the amount I was getting in Delhi,” she said.

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No contact

Soyef Ali, a neighbour and a well wisher of the Khatuns in Paikar village, said that people are being driven out of the village by poverty. Khatun’s parents are old and worried about their daughter Sunali who is pregnant when she was picked up by the police.

“As far as we know, Sunali and her family were pushed into Bangladesh. There is no connection with them now,” said Ali.

Ali also said that he is in touch with the West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, which has moved a petition in the Supreme Court.