Assam: 40 Lakh People Left Out Of Final Draft Of National Register Of Citizens

The final list of the National Register of Citizens was released on July 30. The final draft has excluded about 40 lakh of the 3.29 crore state population from the list. It is to be noted that the first draft was released on December 31, 2017, which had excluded 1.39 crore people.

The authorities claim that they are fully equipped to deal with any violence that may erupt. The state is still holding the central forces and they plan to continue that until the entire process is not completed. About 220 companies of Central Armed Police Forces in Assam and neighbouring states have been dispatched.

State NRC Coordinator, while releasing the list in front of the media said that people who were not included in the list can make claims and objections, as reported by ANI.

Out of 3.29 crore people, 2.89 crore have been found eligible to be included. This is just a draft, and not the final list.The people who are not included can make claims and objections:State NRC Coordinator #NRCAssam

— ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2018

The Registrar General of India, Sailesh also reiterated that those left out of the list would be allowed to raise objections. He said, “Every person whose name was in the first draft but is missing from the final draft will be given an individual letter to file a claim for her/his non-inclusion during claims and objections”, as quoted by ANI.

As reported by News18, a total of 6.56 crore supporting documents along with 68.31 lakh application forms were submitted and they were scanned in 16 rounds of digitalisation.

On Sunday, panic and anxiety among people of Assam was quite evident with authorities enforcing prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC in ten districts.

As reported by The Firstpost, Satyendra, Joint-Secretary, North East said that Union Minister has made it clear that no one, on the basis of this draft will be taken to a detention centre. He said, “What we are releasing today is a draft. Union home minister has made it clear that based on this draft, no one will be taken to detention centres and no one will be referred to Foreigners’ Tribunal. We are committed to maintaining law and order. We are confident law and order will be maintained at any cost. If anybody does any mischief, he will be sternly dealt with.”

Assam CM calls it a historic document

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who held a meeting with leaders of all political parties called the complete draft as a historic document, that would be the “armour of safety” for the people of Assam. He also asked the leaders to lend their cooperation in maintaining peace in the coming days.

As quoted by The Hindu, Mr Sonowal said, “More than 55,000 officers and employees devoted time to prepare an error-free NRC and ensure the exercise monitored by the Supreme Court and guided by the Registrar General of India is a success. The publication of the complete draft will go a long way in achieving what an agitation (against illegal migrants from 1979-1985) almost four decades ago had sought to.”

He also appealed to people from all linguistic, religious and ethnic groups to practice restraint after the publication of the second draft, “just as you did during and after the first draft.”

52 identified as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh

52 people identified as Bangladeshis were arrested. Amrit Bhuyan, Superintendent of Police of South Salmara-Mankachar district, told Time 8, “They were detained over a period of time and were sent to detention centres thereafter. However, no cases were registered against them as they are illegal migrants. Today we have deported them back to their country, Bangladesh.”

They were sent back after the Guwahati-based office of the Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh issued them travel permits.

SP Bhuyan also added that the illegal immigrants, which included 47 Muslims and 5 Hindus, were caught red-handed entering the country illegally and hence, there was no point of any Foreigner Tribunal case or notice. They were languishing in the detention camps at Goalpara and Tezpur since 2012.

Earlier, the Bangladesh government had accepted the identity of these immigrants as Bangladeshi nationals.

Also Read: Assam: What Is National Register Of Citizens & Why Has It Created Tense Atmosphere In The State?