Upamanyu Hazarika calls for independent probe

FAKE DOCUMENTS IN NRC

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 13: Worried at reports that a large number of fake documents submitted by NRC applicants have been detected during course of verification, Upamanyu Hazarika, who headed the one-man commission on India-Bangladesh boundary appointed by the Supreme Court, has sought an independent inquiry into the racket.

"Infiltrators entrench themselves by acquiring identity proofs and citizenship rights. We had apprehended that a large number of foreigners might apply to be included in the NRC. This has been proved right as a large number of fake documents have been detected in the course of verification," he said.

Hazarika said it is important that an independent inquiry be undertaken so that the entire process and persons involved in the racket can be exposed.

Underscoring the need to understand the process and the kind of forgery that takes place, he said that only after an investigation will it be possible to properly examine every document.

"For example, if a birth certificate from Bilasipara has been found to be forged, then all certificates from Bilasipara have to be tested and the persons responsible for this have to be proceeded against. We were told that over 30 FIRs have been lodged in connection with cases of fake documents. Each case needs to be investigated thoroughly," Hazarika, a Supreme Court lawyer and convenor of the Prabrajan BIrudhi Mancha, said.