Ten More Detention Camps; Deputy Commissioners (DCs) Asked To Identify Land

GUWAHATI: In an effort to tackle the situation arising in the post-publication phase of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) on or before July 31, 2019, the Assam government is planning to set up 10 more detention camps for illegal foreigners. Dispur has already sent the proposal to the Ministry of Home affairs (MHA). At present, there are only six temporary detention centres. This exercise is being carried out simultaneously with the move to establish 200 Additional Foreigners Tribunals (AFTs) in the first phase (of the sanctioned 400 AFTs) across the State. These AFTs will be besides the existing 100 FTs in Assam; of which 36 are permanent while the other 64 are functioning as additional FTs.

With respect to the process of setting up the 10 additional detention camps, the border wing of Assam Police is preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The Home and Political Department has already written letters to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to find out suitable land for these additional detention camps.

Dispur has initiated the process to set up the more detention camps as it feels that the number of people not eligible for the NRC might increase substantially after the publication of the final NRC.

Earlier, the government notified six district jails as ‘temporary detention centers’ for such ‘Declared Foreigners’. These centres are at Goalpara, Silchar, Kokrajhar, Jorhat, Tezpur, and Dibrugarh.

As on December 2018, there are 935 detainees in these six temporary detention centres across Assam. Of them, 823 are ‘Declared Foreigners’ and 115 convicted foreigners. Interestingly, most of them are from Bangladesh. Besides males and females, the detainees include children as well.

Moreover following the approval of MHA, the Assam government is presently carrying out construction work for the first full-fledged ‘permanent detention centre’ for the ‘Declared Foreigners’ at Matia in Goalpara district. It is expected to be completed by December this year. Construction of this permanent detention centre stretched across 15 bigha of land and estimated to cost Rs 46.51 crore is being carried out by the Assam Police Housing Corporation. Once completed, it will have a capacity to house 3,000 inmates, informed Corporation sources.

Also Read: NRC Update At Crucial Phase: DCs And COs Examining Records Of Hearing