Confidential List of Suspected Bangladeshi Nationals Residing in South Andaman Leaked on WhatsApp, RTI Act Section 24(1), except SB (CID) : Sri Vijaya Puram

Nicobar Times: Nicobar: Saturday, 7^Th June 2025.
The SB (CID) is one of the few organisations in the Andaman and Nicobar Administration exempt from the provisions of the Right to Information Act under Section 24(1), except in matters involving allegations of corruption or human rights violations

RTI Act Section 24(1), except  SB (CID)

A highly sensitive and confidential document prepared by the Special Branch (Criminal Investigation Department) [SB (CID)] of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been leaked and is being widely circulated on WhatsApp. The document, which contains a list of individuals suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals residing in South Andaman District, was never intended for public access but has now reached thousands of citizens through various WhatsApp groups across the Islands.
The confidential communication, reportedly sent by the SB (CID) to the Senior Superintendent of Police, South Andaman, and the Superintendents of Police in Nicobar and North & Middle Andaman districts, was marked as Confidential. Its presence in the public domain raises serious concerns about the breach of protocol and internal data security within departments handling sensitive intelligence.
The SB (CID) is one of the few organisations in the Andaman and Nicobar Administration exempt from the provisions of the Right to Information Act under Section 24(1), except in matters involving allegations of corruption or human rights violations. Despite this high level of statutory protection, a document prepared by this very department has now found its way onto WhatsApp, causing alarm.
The implications of such a leak are deeply concerning. Individuals who are indeed Bangladeshi nationals and were under surveillance may now attempt to flee, hide or change their identity, thereby evading the authorities. Meanwhile, those who have been incorrectly included in the list and are, in fact, Indian citizens may now be forced to live under a cloud of suspicion. Their names, now publicly associated with foreign nationality, could affect their social standing, livelihood, and dignity, even if they are eventually cleared by the authorities.
This incident also brings to light the broader issue of how easily confidential government documents are being leaked and circulated online. It is highly likely that someone within the system someone who had access to this classified information is responsible for the leak. If such actions are not swiftly and seriously dealt with, it could encourage further breaches in the future, compromising not just administrative functioning but also national security.
There are clear legal provisions that criminalise the unauthorised disclosure of confidential government information. This act of leaking a document marked ‘confidential’ must be treated with utmost seriousness. The individual responsible must be identified and booked under relevant laws, and a strong message must be sent across all levels of government service that such breaches will not be tolerated under any circumstances.