India to Check Social Media Accounts Before Issuing Visas

India is set to examine social media accounts of applicants before issuing visas, following incidents like that of Kushtia’s Afshara Anika Mim. In 2018, she enrolled in the Fine Arts Department at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, India. However, during widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019, Mim shared images of her classmates participating in the demonstrations on Facebook.

In February 2020, Mim received a letter from India's Ministry of Home Affairs, informing her that her visa was being revoked due to her 'anti-India' posts on social media. Despite not actively participating in any protests, Mim was ordered to leave India immediately. This move shocked her, as she never anticipated facing such action for simply sharing images of a protest she was not involved in.

Around the same time, a Bangladeshi tourist in Kolkata joined the anti-CAA protests and shared images on social media. As a result, the tourist was promptly sent back to Bangladesh through the Benapole border.