Conditional Release of Foreigners From Detention Camps Commences

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Even as the countdown has begun for publication of the final NRC (National Register of Citizens) on August 31, the Assam government has also started the process for conditional release of those foreigners who have completed more than three years in the six detention camps across the State. Already 10 such illegal foreigners have been set free from the Goalpara detention camp as they fulfilled the conditions set by the Supreme Court for initiating such an action, informed sources. Of them, while the local addresses of nine is in Goalpara district, one of them has shown it in Chirang district.

The Supreme Court had directed the Assam government and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to commence the process for release of foreigners detained in the detention camps for more than three years provided the persons concerned fulfill the predetermined conditions. Of the approximately 1,100 detenus in the detention camps, 335 have completed more than three years in the detention camps.

As per rule, such detenus or their kin have to seek bail from the respective Foreigner Tribunals (FTs) in the prescribed form. After getting bail from the FTs, the persons need to communicate with the Office of Superintendent of Police (Border branch) at the districts concerned. Finally, the Border branch executes the guidelines set by the apex court for the conditional release of those foreigners.

Following the Supreme Court’s directive, the Home and Political (B) Department of the Government of Assam vide a notification dated July 29, 2019 added some provisions for the conditional release of the declared foreigners from the Detention Centres as sub-para (iii) in partial notification of the earlier notification dated June 17, 2019.

According to this sub-para, the Home and Political Department of the State Government may release those declared foreigners who have completed more than three years in Detention Centres on the following conditions:

(a) Execution of bond with two sureties of Rs 1 lakh only each of Indian citizens.

(b) He or she specifies verifiable address of stay after release.

(c) Biometric of his/her iris (if possible) and all ten finger prints and photos shall be captured and stored in a secured database before release from the Detention Centres. He or she shall report once every week to the Police Station specified by the Home and Political Department.

(d) He or she shall notify any change of his or her address to the specified Police Station on the same day.

(e) A quarterly report to be submitted by the Superintendant of Police (Border) to the Home and Political Department regarding appearance of such released declared foreigners to the Police Station concerned. In case of violation of the condition, the Declared Foreign National will be apprehended and detained in the Detention Centre.

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