High security as citizens’ list work nears end

Guwahati: The Union ministry of home affairs has deployed more than 85 companies of paramilitary forces in Assam exclusively to deal with any situation that may arise during the process of updating National Register of Citizens (NRC), which has entered into the final phase of verification of family tree and certificates issued by the panchayat secretaries.

Security agencies apprehend trouble in certain pockets of the state as verification of family trees brought to light that suspected foreigners are trying to get their names enrolled in the NRC. However, the process has so far been peaceful.

It may be noted that names of around 1.90 crore people have already been included in the first draft of the NRC and the final draft will be out soon.

Sources said since the MHA believes there would be trouble in certain parts of the state during the process of verification, 85 additional companies of central forces were sent to the state.

Informing that the situation is being reviewed on a regular basis and the Centre is ready to deploy more forces if required, sources said that efforts are on by some elements with vested interest to spread misinformation on the process of updating the NRC.

The aim behind updating and publishing the 1951 NRC is to compile a list of the names of genuine Indian citizens residing in Assam and, in the process, detect foreigners (Bangladeshis) who may have illegally entered the state after March 24, 1971.

Asserting that the Supreme Court has been monitoring the entire process, the security sources said that some tension was created at initial stages of verification of documents submitted by applicants for inclusion of their names, but pro-active intervention of NRC authorities managed to defuse it.

As the process of updating the NRC is closely monitored by the SC and even after the publication of the final draft, there would be provisions for filing claims and objections, the Indian citizens should not worry about the NRC.

Moreover, if anyone is not satisfied with the decisions of the NRC authorities, he or she will have the option to approach the Foreigners’ Tribunals, high court or even the SC.

Sources said that during the process of verification of the family trees, around 48 lakh mismatches were detected and the persons concerned have been called to the centres for on-the-spot verification, while, the process of verification of around 29 lakh certificates issued by the panchayat secretaries is also on.

The process for the final draft is likely to be completed by May-end.

The final countdown

• There is uncertainty over the fate of those whose names do not figure in the final NRC and are declared illegal entrants into the state
• Union home ministry has deployed more than 85 companies of paramilitary forces in Assam to deal with possible trouble
• During the process of verification of family trees, around 48 lakh mismatches were detected