A family gets ready to move hundreds of kilometres at a day’s notice, from Goroimari to Sivsagar. The human
costs are incalculable; materially it will cost the family of daily wage earners no less than Rs 15,000-20,000

Guwahati, August 4, 2019: The NRC authorities in Assam have served thousands of urgent hearing notices to hapless residents of lower Assam, even those who have already been through the tortuous process more than once. News of such large-scale notices being served have crept in from late on Saturday night, August 3. Not only is the number of such notices high but the modus operandi seems worse: the notices compel persons with entire families to travel hundreds of kilometres away to upper Assam at a day’s notice. Moreover, these directives by the NRC authority appear to be a clear violation of the Supreme Court of India directives dated July 23, 2019. At the last hearing, the state and central governments had pushed hard for such a re-verification that had been turned down by the Supreme Court. Despite this, the NRC authorities, that are supposed to function under court orders, appear to be violating the same.
 
On July 23, 2019, the Supreme Court of India at the last hearing in the famed ‘NRC case’, had clearly ruled that such a re-verification process by the NRC is not necessary at this point. Despite this clear-cut judicial order, the NRC authorities have served thousands of notices in lower Assam Districts, between August 3 and 4, compelling poor and hapless residents, to rush in panic to attend hearing at various places in upper Assam. Despair and desperation has gripped several districts of the state over the week-end.

In an earlier order of May 2019 in the same case, the Supreme Court had also directed the NRC authority to ensure that the hearings –whenever they are conducted– are held at suitable places so that there is no undue harassment of those compelled to attend. Clearly overriding even these earlier directives of India’s Supreme Court, the NRC authority appears to have ensured maximum harassment: compelling hapless persons from the districts of lower Assam, especially many persons from Kamrup, Barpeta and Bongaigaon to travel hundreds of kilometres away.

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has collated a detailed such list of these re-verification notices which is in its possession. Dozens of persons  from lower Assam have been directed to attend hearings in the districts of upper Assam; districts like Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivsagar, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur, which are 500-700 km far from their place of residence. Sources within the NRC, while speaking to Sabrangindia admitted that in the Chamaria Revenue Circle of Kamrup District alone a staggering number of as many as 25,400 notices were served on August 3 and 4, asking persons to attend hearings, between August 5-7, 2019 in places like Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivsagar District.The distance from Chamaria to Golaghat is about 500 km, Jorhat is 550 kms away, while Sivsagar and Dhemaji are at a distance of 630 kms and 900 kms respectively. Dates of these hearings have been fixed between August 5, 6 and 7, 2019.

A sample such notice can be seen here:

Here is a memorandum submitted by citizens locally:

Likewise, within the Goroimari revenue circle as many as 4,500 notices have been summarily issued; and in the Nagarbera revenue circle a total of 3,500 notices have been served. Other sources admitted to Sabrangindi that from the total number of notices served in Kamrup district as many as 5,000 are on legacy data users, who have been called for a ‘strict re-verification’. If this is indeed true, then a total of about 1,00,000 people of Kamrup district alone will have to face re-verification in this round alone. The source also revealed that about 25,000 people from within the Chamaria Revenue Circle and 15,000 victims from the same district but out of the Chamaria Revenue Circle will have to, in all, face such a re-verification process. Besides, 20,000 people from other parts of the State will also have to face such a re-verification in the coming three days. Though the total number of people called (through these notices) for hearing are below 1,00,000, eventually the number of persons who will be subject to re-verification could go up by ten times of the number of notices issued. This is because, while deciding the fate of one genuine Indian citizen, 10-20 number of other witnesses from her/his village need to attend the hearings! At a most modest estimate, this means that a large, large number –close to 6,00,000 residents of Assam will need to subject themselves to these re-verification hearings in the next three days alone.
 
Is it possible for such large numbers to suddenly and promptly travel, at two days notice to places that are –at a minimum 500 kilometres away ?

“Since last evening, while huge numbers of notices were served in various villages under the Chamaria Revenue Circle, everyone was shocked. Persons who are being summoned under this latest procedure (‘re-verification’) have already faced multiple levels of hearings before the NRC in the past eighteen months. Faced with no choice, a beleaguered and marginalised population once again geared up on Sunday to face another round of bureaucratic probing. But where are the logistical facilities to meet this deadline and travel? Chamaria, the riverine area of Brahmaputra, has no road connectivity. The villages under Chamaria Revenue Circle are home to huge numbers of people, unlettered and argrarian labour, clueless on distances that need to be traversed and transportation requirements. When many started making inquiries, they found that the hearing centres are far out of their reach. Hundreds of people came out from their home on roads, desperately looking for transportation. Until late on Sunday night, they could book only 25 buses and about 100 small cars on hire, Costs sky-rocketed and poor families prepared ro pay up Rs 15,000 to 40,000.00 (only for transport) to attend the hearing!
 
“Even after all these efforts, many persons could not manage to hire as many vehicles as needed ” said Anish Bhuyan, CJP Volunteer Motivator for Kamrup District said. Shajahan Ali, Zila Parishad Member of Sontoli Zila Parishad added, “People are ready to attend NRC hearings. But there is just no available transportation. I approached the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup District to request him to arrange the required vehicles so that everyone called on for hearings could actually attend. But the Deputy Commissioner asked me to speak to the Circle Officer in this regard. I even assured the Circle Officer that, if the government or NRC authority arranged the required number of vehicles, by way of official requisition, we will pay the fare of those vehicles. But all our efforts have gone in vain. The Administration has done nothing to help. Hundreds of people were ready and waiting but could not go to the hearing centres today. We have apprised Mr Debabrata Saikia, the Leader of the opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, of the dire situation. He has written a letter to Prateek Hajela, the State Coordinator for NRC, demanding a postponement of of the hearings till adequate arrangements are made.Sabrangindia has  a copy of this letter.
 
The letter has also demanded that it is the responsibility of the NRC authority to arrange for vehicles for those persons who had been served with re-verification notices, especially those summoned to far-flung areas. Saikia has demanded that all precautionary measures related to the safety and security of the people attending the re-verification process, in far-off places, also be taken by the NRC Authority.

Azizur Rahman, adviser to AAMSU has demanded that the NRC authority stops this undue harassment in the name of re-verification. He told Sabrangindia that the hearings could have been conducted within the same district to avoid such harassment of the marginalised. Sukharanjan Bir, Chief Advisor of the Bharatiya Nagorikatta Adhikar Surakshya Mancha also said that the attitude of the NRC authority does not benefit any government authority in a civilised society. Demands for payment of minimum wages for the days lost for these hearings are also being made. Hemen Das, former MLA and senior leader of the CPI(M) informed Sabrangindia that in his knowledge, 450 persons have been summoned from a remote and far-flung place in the interiors for a hearing at a NRC Kendra about 600 km far from their place of residence.
 
There are also serious allegations that the NRC authority –instead of following the diktats of the Supreme Court –are bending to pressures from the state government and therefore harassing target groups. Rehana Sultana, a Research Scholar of Guwahati has alleged, “my family members have been called in for hearing in three separate places on the same day! We are confused about which of us should attend which hearing and at which location especially as for each hearing we need to be accompanied by witnesses! Hundreds of Assam’s genuine citizens were shocked to find themselves served with notices late on Sunday evening (August 4) summoned to attend hearings 600-700 kilometres away on Monday! Is it possible for them to attend hearings at a NRC centre which is 600 to 700 km far from their home? This is unnecessary harassment for the poor people.”

Photographs of distress and panic in Assam (August 4/5, 2019)

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The post Is the NRC Authority violating the Supreme Court’s order of July 23? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The incident took place only 300 feet from the local police outpost. Telephonic conversations of Sabrangindia with local people, who requested anonymity, alleged that all mobile numbers of the police personnel on duty at the outpost were unavailable when the victim population desperately made calls requesting pritection.There is a serious concern about the  probability of more such attacks.

Represented by an intemperate leader from the BJP, Tinsukia has been simmering with communal tensions since September.  Sabrangindia had reported, that over five days in September 2018, the district has been witnessing acute communal flare-ups.  Until now, there have been several reported attacks, targeted at the Muslim minority in the District, and two group clashes have also been witnessed.

Image Courtesy:mapsofindia.com

The killings on the late evening of Thursday, November 1, take place in an atmosphere of extreme tension and polarisation. Over the last few days, there has been prevailing war of words between the surrendered ULFA leaders and controversial BJP MLA, a  Bengali leader Siladitya Dev. The BJP MLA has been reportedly, continuously making  controversial and provocaive remarks against some organizations representing  Assamese society and surrendered ULFA militants. This has led to a bitter war of words with the surrendered ULFA leaders also reportedly making provocative speeches against the BJP Leader and MLA Siladitya Dev and the Bengali community at large. It was in this atmosphere of extreme provocation and polarisation that the tragic shottings of tonight have taken place. The slain persons were identified as Subal Das, Shyamol Biswas,  Abinash Biswas, Dhananjoy Namasudra and Ananta Biswas, reported Shillong Times.  Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress will take out rallies in different parts of north and south Bengal to protest the killing of people from her state, NDTV repors.

Meanwhile, Debabrata Saikia, leader of the opposition in the Assam assembly has sharply condemned the attack. “I condemn the cold-blooded killing of at least four-five Bengali speakers in Bisonibari of Dhola, Tinsukia district. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. I had warned during my press conference today that the policy of polarization tacitly condoned or even sponsored by the BJP-led Govts in Assam might lead to a gory conflict. Shame on the BJP! Your greed for votes has claimed the first innocent ethnic-clash victims today in Assam.
I appeal to all sections of the people of Assam to exercise restraint despite flagrant attempts to foment a violent confrontation. The Government must ensure safety and security to life and property of all people living in the state.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has also condemned “the killing of innocent people” and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families. “Strong action will be taken against the perpetrators of this dastardly violence. We will not tolerate such cowardly act,” he told PTI. Sonowal said he has directed state ministers Keshav Mahanta and Tapan Gogoi along with DGP Kuladhar Saikia to rush to the spot. “We will not spare the culprits of the killings and will be brought to book,” he said. The chief minister appealed to the people of Assam to maintain peace and harmony. He also directed all deputy commissioners and SPs to remain alert.

Image Courtesy: Sabrangindia Team

Siladitya Dev’s Controversial Record

Dev’s extreme and provocative speeches have continued to fan tensions and hatred in the area. The state unit of the ruling party had been caight in a bind over the process of recording the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and its capricious policies around the Citizenship Bill sought to be thrust down on the people of Assam, Dev has been simulataneously criticising the NRC itself while pushing for the Citizenship Bill. Weeks ago, an assam Bandh opposing the Citizenship Bill was a resounding success despite all manners of coercive tactics employed by the government to prevent small and big businesses and government servants participating in the state wide protest. Ever since the saffron party won power in this north eastern state, acute tensions and polarisations have percolated to the polity.

Tinsukia Simmers
In the oil-rich town of Doomdooma, the first Communal clash broke out on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi festival. On the same day, September 13, on Rajendra Prasad road,  some Muslims began to practice with the Tajia procession, on the eve the Muharram processions. This rehearsal of the Tajia  procession was begun from the Muslim populated area of the town after 10 pm. Close by, celebrations around the Ganesh Puja had been going on since the early hours of the same day. Though the minority population is barely five per cent targeted incidents have been reported.

Image Courtesy: Sabrangindia Team
 

The post Five Shot Dead at Tinsukia, Assam: Hate Speech Precedes Targeted Killings appeared first on SabrangIndia.

How to find out if you are on the list?

According to Prateek Hajela, State Co-ordinator of the NRC, the updated version of the NRC will be published by 10 am on 30th July. The draft NRC will be available in every village of Assam. Every citizen will able to check their names by connecting with Booth-level Officers in every village. You can also send your ARN Number (a code number given to all applicants of during the time of submission of their applications) to the four numbers of Government website or by registering their ARN Numbers through sending messages to three numbers of helpline telephone numbers.
The website for checking the ARN Numbers are:
www.nrcassam.nic.in
www.assam.mygov.in,
www.assam.gov.in and
www.homeandpolitical.assam.gov.in

Any person can access these websites and after submitting their ARN Numbers they will able to know whether their names have been entered in the final draft of the NRC.
Moreover, a person can send a mobile message to the NRC helpline numbers viz. 7899405444 or 7026861123 or 97065556555. Anybody who will send their mobile message by citing their ARN Numbers by 7 pm on 29th July will get a message from the same numbers on July 30 from 10 am onwards, giving the status of every member of the family.
 

What happens if you don’t make it to the list?

The Government of Assam and the NRC authority are have maintained that on 30th July, the NRC authority is going to publish only the draft of the updated NRC and it is not final NRC. Anybody, whose name is left out of the final draft, will get the opportunity to raise their claim and objections. These claims and objections should be raised within 30 days from declaration of the draft of the updated version of NRC.

However, many citizens who have submitted their applications along with all sorts of documents regarding their citizenship are not convinced by government assurances, and have dubbed it ‘propaganda’ designed to hide flaws in the system. Their objection is that they have submitted their applications and all necessary documents to prove their citizenship. They have attended all hearings as per notified by the NRC Authority. If their applications are rejected, they will have to jump through more bureaucratic and legal hoops, which many view as unnecessary harassment.
 

Did ‘Hasty update’ lead to exclusion of a large number of people?

Internal sources connected with the NRC update process say that huge number of have been left out of the updated final draft of the NRC in a hasty way. It is alleged that the assurances made by the modalities, SOP, SSOP on update of NRC have been violated in a huge number of cases.
 

D-Voters and Siblings and family members of Declared Foreigners

Therefore the big question on everyone’s minds is how many people will be left out of the updated draft of the NRC? Estimates vary, but it appears that the number could be in lakhs. There are about 1.48 Lakhs of D Voters, plus over 92,000 declared foreigners. Add to this all of their siblings and children of the declared foreigners, whose names will be kept pending from the draft NRC till they have received a clean chit from the FT.

Panchayat Certificates submitted by Married Women

Moreover, the applications of a huge number of married women and unmarried girl children who were allowed to submit the Village Panchayat certificates to establish their linkage with their parents have been rejected by and large. However, after long running legal war the Supreme Court of India, finally held that the uneducated women, who have no birth certificate or other certificates to establish their relationship with their parents must be allowed to held the Panchayat Certificates and genuine link certificates. In these cases, the Supreme Court of India directed the NRC Co-ordinator, to examine the genuineness of such certificates. However, it is alleged that the middle-ranked officials related to the NRC, have directed that those who have submitted the Panchayat Certificates must submit additional documents from before December, 2015, which may be a supportive the Panchayat Certificates!

The married or unmarried women, along with a huge number of minor boys, who have no School or Birth Certificates, could be left out of the final Draft NRC in this way. In huge numbers of cases, the District Level officers have allegedly put on hold the Panchayat Certificates citing it as oral certificates! In this way, lakhs of genuine Indian Citizen could lose the opportunity to enter their names in the updated draft NRC.
 

Allegations of ploy to keep out Religious and Linguistic Minorities

Many people view this as an injustice against huge number of Religious and Linguistic Minorities, especially Muslims and Bengali speaking Hindus, who are mostly from Dalit and other oppressed communities. They have been raising this issue by way of protests and demonstrations across the state. The central and state governments are aware of the situation and the possibility of the break out of violence. This is why there is a deployment of security forces all over Assam, especially in the minority dominated districts. Even the Army is on standby.

Image Courtesy: People stand in line to check their names on the first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) at Gumi village of Kamrup district in the Indian state of Assam on January 1, 2018. /VCG Photo
 

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