Guwahati: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday the son of an Assam woman, who was expelled to Bangladesh in June after being declared a foreigner, knows where she is and that she is safe.The statement came after Gauhati high court on Sept 3 directed ministry of external affairs (MEA) to make efforts to locate 47-year-old Mumtaz Begum in Bangladesh and facilitate her return to India to contest her case in the foreigners’ tribunal. The court also directed Assam govt to pay her husband interim compensation of Rs 2 lakh.“Her son knows where and how safely Mumtaz Begum is. He speaks to her every day and has contact with her. So, there is nothing to worry about,” Sarma said on the sidelines of a campaign rally for Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, scheduled for Oct 6.Sarma did not provide further details about Mumtaz Begum, whose case has become an issue in the bypoll.“Her family became upset because Congress was doing politics over the matter. It is not a political issue at all. In fact, neither AIUDF nor Congress has done anything for the family,” Sarma said.“On the contrary, even Mumtaz Begum’s son might say he will vote for BJP, which means there is some good news for him,” he added.Mumtaz Begum was declared a foreigner by Nagaon Foreigners’ Tribunal on June 6, 2019. She challenged the order before Gauhati high court, which set it aside on April 20, 2026, and remanded the matter to the tribunal for a fresh decision. The court directed her to appear before the tribunal by May 30, 2026.When she presented herself at the tribunal, police arrested her from the tribunal’s premises before the tribunal could issue fresh judgement on her citizenship. The next day, she was sent to the transit camp at Matia in Goalpara district. On June 13, she was handed over to BSF, and the next day she was expelled across the border into Bangladesh at Kalaincherra in Sribhumi district.
