12 Jan : The Assam government on Monday suggested issuance of multi-purpose identity cards to stop infiltration of Bangladeshis into the state.Replying to a question in the assembly, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the identity cards could be issued after upgrading the National Register of Citizens (NRC), 1951.
On the demand by Opposition leader Chandra Mohan Patowary and other members that the NRC be updated prior to the card being issued, Gogoi agreed to the proposal asserting the cards would help the migrants to be detected and sent back at the border itself.
Gogoi said 2,870 Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended by police in the state between January and November last year.
Gogoi also said eight underground groups are active in the state — ULFA, Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel group), Karbi Longri N C Hills Liberation Front, All Adivasi National Liberation Army, Kuki Revolutionary Army, Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic), Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam, besides HuJI.
Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said the state government was working to halt infiltration from Bangladesh by taking up the matter with the Centre.
He said the government has adopted a second line of defence and started joint BSF-Assam Police border patrolling, besides installing flood lights along the fenced border.