Assam NRC Final List on July 31: After Army Officer Mohammed Sanaullah, Bihar-Origin Woman Living in State for Years Declared ‘Foreigner’, Sent to Detention
After the ex-army official, it is a woman, an Assam resident with roots in Bihar, who has been declared a "foreigner" and sent to the detention centre. Media reports identified the woman as Amila Sah, whose father was reportedly born in Bihar, but the rest of her family has been living in the north-eastern state since the British era.
Ever since the Assam Government decided to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) List, there has only been chaos in the north-eastern state. Who will be included and not in the Assam NRC Final list, which is scheduled to be published on July 31, is a matter of concern for every resident. Earlier in June 2019 a retired army officer, who served the nation for 30 years, was sent to the detention centre. His name was not in the NRC list, the final exclusion draft of which will be released today, June 26, 2019. After the ex-army official, it is a woman, an Assam resident with roots in Bihar, who has been declared a "foreigner" and sent to the detention centre. Much More Than Just ‘Illegal Immigrants’ on Ground; Tension & Fear Among Indian Citizens Trying to Prove National Identity.
Media reports identified the woman as Amila Sah, whose father was reportedly born in Bihar, but the rest of her family has been living in the north-eastern state since the British era. A Foreigners’ Tribunal declared the 40-year-old had failed to prove that she is the daughter of Keshab Prashad Gupta who was born in Nalanda in Bihar and had moved to Pratapgarh Tea Estate in Assam in 1948.
But Sah’s family members and siblings have been included in the list. On June 15, from Dholaibeel area in Sonitpur district, Sah was arrested and sent to the detention centre. The family now plans to challenge the decision at the Gauhati High Court.
Supreme Court on Assam NRC
The honourable Supreme Court of India has repeatedly urged the Assam government to give the citizens a fair hearing against non-inclusion of their names. The citizens whose names are not in the NRC draft list will get an opportunity to file claims and objections. They have to be given “due opportunity” before the final publication.
The fresh draft list scheduled for today will include the names of those who are "ineligible" to be included in the NRC. Citizens are supposed to produce their fair claims in the front of the court before any stringent measure is put in place.
The retired army officer Mohammed Sanaullah, has been granted bail by the Guwahati High Court, with a bond of Rs 20,000. On the other hand, Ms Sah’s family now plans to approach the HC and challenge the Foreigners’ Tribunal decision. But will she get a fair hearing?
Despite the hearing, the recent cases of both Sanaullah and Sah, have only created panic among the citizens. The process from the beginning has continued to threaten to turn millions of citizens stateless. Their future remains precarious. Those whose names are not included, face months, if not years, in tribunals and courts, struggling to establish their citizenship.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2019 12:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).