National Register of Citizens in Assam sends ripples to neighbouring states

GUWAHATI: The proposed publication of the “complete draft” of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam on July 30 has rung the alarm bells in some neighbouring states. 

At least four states, such as Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, are closely monitoring the exercise in Assam as they feel they could be affected post-publication of the document. Their worries are, primarily, over the possible influx of people whose names would not figure in the document.

In Nagaland, the state government has instructed the police to deploy additional forces to border areas to check and prevent the influx of immigrants. 

“Additional India Reserve Battalion units are being deployed and flying squads will also be sent. The government is writing to village authorities to be vigilant and not allow the illegal immigrants enter their jurisdictions or employ them in any manner. Instructions to district authorities have also been made,” official sources said. 

The influential Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) urged house owners not to rent out rooms to the immigrants or be ready to face action.

“…With the publication of NRC by Assam government, it is being viewed that massive alarming migration of illegal immigrants is bound to happen if the state government does not take necessary measures to monitor the flow of illegal immigrants”, the NSF said. 

In Arunachal, the police in all districts sharing a border with Assam have been directed to be on guard to prevent the possible influx of the illegal immigrants.

In Meghalaya, the police have tightened vigil along the border with Assam. “We started taking precautionary measures to check any infiltration of anti-national elements from the last week of December (ahead of the publication of NRC part draft on December 31),” a senior police official said.

In Manipur, the police took several measures to detect the illegal immigrants. The N Biren Singh government is dealing with the issue of illegal immigration very firmly.

The NRC of 1951 is being updated in Assam under the direct monitoring of Supreme Court to detect the illegal immigrants. As per the exercise, people, who entered the state after March 24, 1971, will be viewed as illegal immigrants.

As the D Day approaches and as there is a perception of violence following the publication of draft NRC, the Sarbananda Sonowal government is beefing up security in vulnerable districts in Lower, Central and Southern Assam. Currently, 50 additional companies of the central paramilitary forces are deployed in the state. Official sources told TNIE that some 110 more companies would arrive in the next two to three days.