Must submit NRC application number for new Aadhaar: Himanta Sarma

Guwahati: All new applicants for Aadhaar cards in Assam need to submit their NRC application receipt number (ARN), Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

A detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) will be prepared for the purpose and this will be implemented from October 1, he said.

The submission of the application receipt number of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will stop the "influx of illegal foreigners" and the state government will be ''very strict" in issuing Aadhaar cards, he said.

''Applications for Aadhaar cards are more than the population...It indicates that there are doubtful citizens and we have decided that new applicants will have to submit their NRC application receipt number (ARN)," the chief minister said at a press conference here.

He also said, "It will not be easy to get Aadhaar in Assam and hopefully, other states will also be strict in issuing Aadhaar cards." The submission of the ARN will not be applicable to the 9.55 lakh people whose biometrics were locked during the NRC process, and they will get their cards,Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

It will also not be applicable in the tea garden areas as many have not got their Aadhaar cards due to some practical difficulties like non-availability of adequate biometric machines, the CM said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma pointed out that four districts have reported "more applications for Aadhaar cards than their total projected population".

"These districts are Barpeta with 103.74 per cent, Dhubri with 103 per cent, and both Morigaon and Nagaon with 101 per cent," he said.

According to him, the Centre has given the right to the state governments to decide on whether an Aadhaar card can be issued to an individual or not.

''In Assam, we have decided that Aadhaar cards will be issued to new applicants only after a no objection certificate is given by the district commissioner concerned. Such certificates will be issused after minutely examining all aspects. If the applicant has the NRC ARN, it becomes clear that he was in the state before 2014," Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The chief minister said his government will "intensify the process of identification of illegal foreigners as several Bangladeshis were apprehended in the last two months and handed over to the authorities of the neighbouring country".

Recent reports indicate an "increase in the number of illegal immigrants being detected, necessitating intensified efforts across the state to proactively curb the movement of illegal migrants while also taking steps to repatriate these individuals", he pointed out.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said border surveillance and patrolling will be strengthened in areas under the jurisdiction of border outposts to detect and prevent illegal border crossings.

Stronger coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and other central agencies will be established to facilitate seamless information sharing and joint operations for enhanced border security, he said.

Intelligence-gathering mechanisms, focusing on cross-border networks and infiltration routes will be enhanced along with community awareness programmes in border areas, he said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that residents in border areas will be encouraged to report suspicious movements or new settlers, which will help early detection of potential illegal immigrants.

All cases of illegal immigrants must be promptly documented and forwarded to the Foreigners Tribunals for adjudication, while periodic verification of records should be conducted to prevent them from evading detection, the chief minister said.

Village or field-level government functionaries will be activated to gather information on new and unknown persons and upon receiving such information, an enumeration of suspected illegal immigrants must be conducted in consultation with Assam Police (HQ), district administration, and district police, he said.

Sustained efforts will be launched to locate and apprehend individuals, who have been on the run after being declared foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunals, the CM said.

After identifying suspected individuals or families, their biometrics will be collected and if such individuals possess Aadhaar, PAN, Voter IDs, or passports, their numbers should be recorded for future reference, Sarma added.

From January 2024 till date, 54 illegal immigrants have been detected - 48 in Karimganj, 4 in Bongaigaon and one each in Haflong GRP and Dhubri district.

Of them, 45 were handed over to their country of origin, while nine were arrested in Karimganj.

PTI