Border police preparing Detailed Project Report on foreigners and suspected foreigners

Common database of foreigners

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The border branch of the Assam Police is preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed common database of foreigners, suspected foreigners against whom cases are pending in foreigners’ tribunals and doubtful voters.

A common database is a data structure used as store or reference data. The proposed common database of foreigners is to be a reference data where information relating to foreigners, suspected foreigners and doubtful voters can be obtained at the click of the mouse. Only the State Home and Political Department, the Election Department, foreigners’ tribunals (FTs) and the Border Police will have access to the proposed common database.

The proposed common database of foreigners is essentially an offshoot of the NRC update exercise currently underway in the State. After the publication of the draft NRC, it has come to light that the names of a few declared foreigners and suspected foreigners against whom cases are pending in FTs have appeared in the draft list of citizens. Such an ominous development has moved the Gauhati High Court to ask the NRC authority and the State government to prepare a common database of foreigners. In a foreigner-infested state like Assam a common database of foreigners is indispensible.

Earlier the database was supposed to be prepared by the NRC authority. However, the task has been entrusted to the State government latter.

Talking to The Sentinel, Principal Secretary of Home and Political Department LS Changsan said: “We’re going to prepare the common database of foreigners, suspected foreigners and doubtful voters. Now the DPR for the database is being prepared. We’re hopeful of preparing the database soon with cooperation and help from all agencies concerned.”

The Gauhati High Court did ask Dispur to give a demonstration (presentation) in the open court on the common database of declared and suspected foreigners, besides doubtful voters on January 31, 2019.

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