Tinsukia: The regional committee of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) gheraoed the office of Margherita sub-division in Tinsukia district on Friday demanding to send back Bangladeshi-origin Buddhist monks, who are illegally staying in the area, despite expiry of their visas.
Talking to EastMojo, AASU district president Binoy Dubey said that there are reports of a large number of illegal foreigners staying in the cover of Buddhist monks in Digboi and Margherita. “We have submitted a memorandum to the SDO informing him that it has come to light that several Bangladeshi-origin Buddhist monks are staying illegally in Assam, depriving local Buddhist monks of their rights.”
“We demand that they should be immediately identified, arrested and sent back to Bangladesh,” Dubey added.
Lakhyajyoti Gogoi of Chatra Mukti Sangram Samity said, “Dipankar Sramon, a Buddhist monk, had come to Assam on a Bangladesh passport with a visa dated September 2010, and continues to stay even after his his visa expired long ago.”
“He is currently the president of Buddha Vihar in Digboi and trying to be the dhante of a Buddhist temple in Margherita,” Gogoi alleged.
Talking to EastMojo, Margherita SDO Sumit Sattawan said, “I have asked the SDPO to conduct an inquiry and ascertain the facts and submit a report.”
“Few years ago, similar accusations were made and on verification it was found they were staying on valid visa,” he added.
