Ahead Of Final NRC Tomorrow, Security Measures Tightened In Assam, Sec 144 Cr Pc In Guwahati

The steps have been taken by the district administration to maintain peace and public order ahead of after the publication of the contentious list and will remain in force till further notice, officials said.

Ahead of the publication of the final NRC list, which will identify the bonafide citizens of the state, security measures have been tightened across Assam. (PTI)

New Delhi: Ahead of the publication of the final NRC list, which will identify the bonafide citizens of the state, security measures have been tightened across Assam. Besides, prohibitory orders under 144 Cr PC have been clamped on Thursday in vulnerable areas of the state, including in the capital city, the police officials said. In Guwahati as well, the prohibitory order was clamped in Dispur, where the secretariat and Assembly complexes are located, besides at Bhangagarh, Basistha, Hatigaon, Sonapur and Khetri police station areas, the police said. The steps have been taken by the district administration to maintain peace and public order ahead of after the publication of the contentious list and will remain in force till further notice, officials said. The security has been heightened as some specified and unspecified persons, groups, organisations or associations are likely to disturb normal functioning of offices, movement of public and traffic flow in the vulnerable areas, besides holding demonstrations and agitations, they said. Section 144 Cr PC prohibits assembly of more than five persons, agitation, demonstration, procession inciting communal violence, carrying of arms, ammunition, explosive substances or weapon of any nature in any public placers or vehicles as well as use of loud speakers. The state police on Thursday appealed to the people not to believe in rumours as some elements are trying to create confusion. The government has ensured adequate safeguards for people, whose name may not appear in the final NRC, it said. NRC is touted as the proof of Assamese identity. The final list of it is scheduled to be declared on August 31. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had on August 23 reviewed the law and order situation of the state with the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police where he had directed them to maintain close relations with the influential persons and opinion makers to ensure that there is no misunderstanding among the people about the NRC process. Assam, which had faced influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th Century, is the only state in the country to have the updation of the NRC after 1951. The exercise this time is being carried out under the supervision of the Supreme Court. In the complete draft of the NRC, which was published in July last year, names of 40,07,707 people were excluded. It had which contained nbames of 2,89,83,677 eligible persons out of a total 3,29,91,384 applicants. Names of additional 1,02,462 persons were included in the list of excluded persons in June this year taking the total ineligible persons to 41,10,169 in the complete draft. (With the inputs from PTI)