Over 1.50 lakh 'Doubtful' voters in Assam

Guwahati, Mar 24: The Assam government is yet to come up with a mechanism to censure speedy verification of more than 1.50 lakh 'Doubtful' (D) voters in the state, which is already facing an unabated infiltration from neighbouring Bangladesh.

The number of D voters in the state stood at 1,58,271, with the highest number of 6,066 such voters in Dhekiajuli constituency, State Cabinet minister Bharat Chandra Narah informed the Assembly today, in reply to a question by Congress MLA Abdul Khaleque.

Barsala and Tezpur constituencies came close at second and third with 6032 and 5045 D voters respectively.

Altogether 16 constituencies of the total 126 in the state did not have D voters, Mr Narah informed. These were Hailakandi, Katlichera, Algapur, Haflong, Baithlangso, Patacharkuchi, Nalbari, Dergaon, Jorhat, Titabor, Teok, Amguri, Thawra, Nazira, Mahmara and Sonari. On the measures initiated to verify these D voters, the minister informed that the electoral roll preparation officials submit the list to the foreigners detection tribunals, who in turn again direct instructions on the steps to be adopted.

Mr Narah, however, failed to state a stipulated time-frame for completion of verification of D voters.

UNI