Assam on edge ahead of draft NRC publication

New Delhi: Intelligence agencies have asked the Assam government to remain on high alert as some “fringe elements and groups” could create trouble ahead of the publication of the first draft of a list of the state's citizens.

Assam is on the edge ahead of the publication of first draft National Register of Citizens on December 31. Sources said the date for releasing the final list could be extended by a few days as the work was in the final stages of completion.

The Union home ministry, which is closely monitoring the situation, has already deployed 450 companies or 45,000 security personnel of Central paramilitary forces across the state and directed all possible action to ensure peace after the publication of the draft NRC.

There have been intelligence inputs about possible tension in some parts of the state where names of doubtful citizens could be excluded in the draft list.

The counter insurgency grid, involving the Army, police, paramilitary and intelligence agencies, has been regularly reviewing the situation and directed all possible action to ensure peace after the publication of the draft NRC, a senior government official said.

Army troops have been alerted and will be called if necessary to assist the administration in case of any trouble, the official said.

Home secretary Rajiv Gauba was in Assam recently on a two-day visit to monitor preparations of the NRC and the necessary security arrangements to maintain law and order in the state.

Work on NRC had started in 2005 following several rounds of meeting between all stake holders including Centre, State Government and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) to prepare a list of only bonafide Indian citizens living in Assam.

The Register of Citizens is contentious issue as it would include names of only bonafide citizens of the state and leave those who are illegal migrants, particularly from Bangladesh.

The state has been witnessing a problem of largescale illegal migration, particularly from Bangladesh.