NRC draft: Operational group may free cops for law and order

GUWAHATI: The Army is likely to take over counter-insurgency operations in the state completely to enable Assam Police and other security forces to focus solely on maintaining law and order when the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) — an updated version of the 1951 register containing names of Indian citizens living in the state — is published by the year end.

The state's operational group, which comprises the Army, Assam Police, CRPF and BSF and is responsible for counterinsurgency operations, at a meeting here discussed the implications of the publication of the NRC as "an emerging issue of importance."

The meeting was held at Narangi Cantonment here and was chaired by GOC of 4th Corps, Lt Gen A S Bedi, with Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay in attendance along with senior functionaries of the state government, police, and representatives of the BSF, CRPF and SSB. "It has been proposed that the Army completely take over the counter-insurgency responsibility so that the other security agencies and Assam Police personnel can be used in maintaining law and order. The final decision is yet to be taken," the source said.

Asked about the meeting, defence PRO Lt Col S Newton said: "The meeting reviewed and discussed matters of importance and formulated guidelines for ensuring and keeping the region free from incident and terror. The meeting also brought to light the requirement to allay fears in the populace regarding NRC and its fallouts. The members further stressed the need to institute a mechanism to provide info till the grass-roots level via NRC Seva Kendras being established by state government as well as through media campaigns including all other mediums on various safeguards instituted by the government in terms of legal recourse available to the populace post NRC publication."