Assam CM reviews HC judgement on foreigners issue

Guwahati, Aug 2(UNI) After facing sharp observations from the Gauhati High Court over the infiltration problem in the state, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today chaired a high-level meeting here to discuss the issue of unabated influx from Bangladesh.

The meeting with senior officials of the Home and Political departments discussed the contents of the High Court judgement of June 23, which had upheld the Foreigners Tribunal, Hojai, orders against petitioner Md Abdul Hashim that the latter was a foreigner.

Expressing serious concern over the incident of a police officer certifying a foreign national to be an Indian citizen, Mr Gogoi ordered departmental proceedings against the policeman within a week. He also directed the concerned officials to issue directives to all concerned that such cases are dealt with utmost caution.The chief minister underscored the need to galvanise the thana-level committees constituted by the state government, comprising officials and leading citizens, to ensure reporting of suspected illegal migrants and to avoid harassment to the genuine Indian citizens in the name of detection of foreigners.

He called for holding meetings at the thana level once in a month. Mr Gogoi also discussed the constitution of a high level committee to help identify the lacunae and gaps in the existing system and to suggest remedial measures. He also urged the tribunals to take necessary steps to expeditiously dispose of the cases before them. Commenting on the increase in the number of cases of registration of birth going up to over 70 per cent, Mr Gogoi stressed on the need to ensure it reaches cent per cent, which will help maintain proper data and check influx in the long run.

He also informed the officials of taking up the matter of early clearance to the proposal of the state government for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with the Prime Minister.

The state government has already sent the draft modalities to the Central government for its approval.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the progress of works of border roads, fencing and BoPS along the Assam side of the Indo-Bangladesh border.

The meeting was attended, among others, by the Chief Secretary, DGP, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Home Commissioner and Legal Remembrance (LR) Officer.

UNI SG RH RN1848