Shawdesh Desk: As the day for publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) approaches, Assam is on high alert.

Security measures have been tightened across Assam and prohibitory orders under 144 Cr PC have been clamped in vulnerable areas of the state, including in the capital city, police officials said, reports India Today.

The NRC is touted as the proof of Assamese identity. The final NRC list, which will identify the bonafide citizens of the state, is scheduled to be declared on August 31.

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 Assam police on Thursday appealed to the people not to believe in rumours by some elements trying to create confusion in the society.

They said the government has ensured adequate safeguards for people, whose name may not appear in the final NRC.

Similar doubts have also been voiced by the original petitioner- Assam Public Works (APW)- whose writ petition before the Supreme Court led to the NRC updation under the supervision of the apex court.
Assam government will provide full opportunity to people whose names have been excluded from final NRC to appeal against their non-inclusion and they can move Foreigner Tribunals (FT), a Home Ministry release said.

This was decided at a meeting in which Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the issues related to the final publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

The meeting, which was held on Monday, was also attended by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Assam’s Chief Secretary Alok Kumar and senior officers.

The meeting also decided that the Home Ministry will amend rules to increase the time period of filing appeals from 60 days to 120 days.

What is NRC?

The NRC is a list of all citizens domiciled in Assam and is being updated at present to retain bonafide citizens within the state and evict illegal settlers, purportedly migrants from Bangladesh.

At present, the list is being updated – for the first time since 1951 – by the Registrar General of India in a Supreme Court-monitored exercise.

Coordinating officials of the NRC have issued advisories upon citizens to check their names in the list. Citizens can check their names by visiting the local citizens’ assistance booth, the circle office, the office of deputy commissioners or the NRC web site.