Assam on edge as NRC’s final draft to be out today

Guwahati: Amid the fear and hope that lakhs of migrants would be detected and identified, the stage has been set for the publication of the second and final draft of the National Register of Citizens in Assam on Monday.

The state coordinator for the NRC, Mr Prateek Hajela, has announced that the final draft will be published at around 12 noon at all NRC Seva Kendras across the state and applicants might be able to check their names on the list, which will include the applicant’s name, address and photographs.

The security forces have also completed their preparations to deal with any possible law and order situation after the publication of the complete draft. Admitting that the publication of the complete draft of the NRC would be a “historic and landmark day” for the state, director-general of police Kula Saikia told reporters that the security forces have geared up to ensure that no untoward incident takes place in any part of the state. He asserted that the forces were confident of dealing with any situation.

Saying all superintendents of police have prepared lists of vulnerable pockets in their respective districts and deployed adequate security personnel, security sources said the police has also prepared lists of potential troublemakers and were keeping a close watch on their activities.

The security sources said that to thwart the designs of rumour-mongers, a series of meetings had been held with all stakeholders, including political parties and various organizations, opinion-makers, etc. He said that information and communications play a vital role in thwarting the designs of rumour mongers and such efforts have been made all over the state.

The Centre has deployed 220 companies of Central paramilitary forces to deal with the situation in Assam and the neighbouring states.

Assam chief minister Sarbanada Sonowal, who is holding a review meeting almost every day with the security forces, has also directed officers to remain alert and to help and explain the process of claims and objections to people whose names did not appear in the draft. The chief minister has also directed officials not to refer any case to the Foreigners’ Tribunal based on the NRC draft list.

The NRC coordinator, Mr Hajela, has also clarified that there will be enough scope for claims by people whose names do not appear in the draft list and that “genuine citizens should not panic if their names fail to appear in the draft NRC”.

If a person’s name does not appear in the draft, then he or she will have to apply in the prescribed forms in their respective Sewa Kendras. These forms will be available from August 7 to September 28 and the authorities will inform them of the reason for their names being left out.

The next step will be to file the claim in another prescribed form, which will be available from August 30 to September 28, and these claims will be finally disposed of after a proper hearing.

The applicants can check their names in the draft by visiting their respective designated NRC Sewa Kendra, which will be available on all working days from 10 am to 4 pm from July 30 to September 28.

The applicants can also call 24x7 toll-free numbers 15107 from Assam and 18003453762 from outside Assam by referring to their 21-digit Application Receipt Number (ARN).