Internal security of Barak valley reviewed before NRC

Assam Chief Secretary T Y Das and Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia today reviewed the law and order and internal security situation of four Barak valley districts before the publication of the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.

The Supreme Court today extended its June 30 deadline for publication of the final draft of NRC by a month, after the Centre and the state coordinator agreed to publish it within the new time limit.

State NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela had last week said he had moved the apex court for extending the date as it would not be possible to release the final draft of the NRC, being prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam, as scheduled on June 30 due to the floods in state.

Hajela had cited the flood situation in Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts in the Barak Valley, parts of Karbi Anglong and Hojai.

Assam police spokesperson said a high-level team comprising Das, Saikia and other senior officials visited Cachar district and took stock of law and order and internal security situation of Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Dima Hasao districts.

"Various issues relating to internal security and emerging law and order situation were discussed threadbare. This is the fifth meeting by the high powered team before publication of draft NRC," the official said.

The DCs, SPs and senior officers of police, Army, other CAPFs and IAF engaged in the districts took part in the discussion, he added.

Senior officials, including Special DGP (SB) Pallab Bhattacharyya and Additional DGP (Law and Order) Mukesh Agrawal were also present during the meeting.