‘Beaten with Wooden Stick’: African Women Allege Extortion, Assault by Official in Delhi Detention Center |
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New Delhi: On the evening of May 14, a person texted this journalist detailing physical violence and extortion targeting African women awaiting deportation at Delhi’s foreign women detention centre. Afraid of repercussions, the person requested anonymity.
On May 14 evening, an anonymous person texted this journalist revealing the grim situation inside Delhi’s foreign women detention centre. It was a desperate plea for help detailing physical violence and extortion targeting African women awaiting deportation.
The next morning, two other women – one a Tanzanian and another a Nigerian national – texted. Unlike the first tip, these messages included videos and information pointing to possible wrongdoing inside the facility. They contacted this journalist to seek protection from an officer who was allegedly harassing them.
“Can you help us? Can you come on 19th May and take us to the airport?” asked the Nigerian woman in the text to this journalist.
Both the African women had flights scheduled for May 20. The Nigerian national possessed a valid Emergency Travel Certificate (TC) and exit permit, whereas the Tanzania had a valid passport and a TC, and was waiting for her final exit permit to be issued on May 18.
In India, if a foreign national loses their passport or has an expired one, their embassy issues a TC to facilitate return to their country of origin. However, an exit permit from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) is mandatory, indicating that there are no legal or immigration concerns before departing.
Despite having these documents, the officer in-charge of the facility – known to detainees as “the boss” – warned them that they wouldn’t be allowed to board their flight until they paid a cash “penalty for overstaying”.
Extortion and assault
Under the Immigration and Foreigners’ Act, 2025, overstay penalties range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 3,00,000 depending on the duration of the violation, with fines increasing as the period of overstay lengthens.
A circular issued by the Nigerian high commission in Delhi underlining that until May end, foreigners who are overstaying in India and have a valid Emergency TC and exit permit could leave the country without paying any fine. Photo by........