Those left out of NRC must get exclusion order copy soon: NGO Teesta Setalvad
Guwahati, Sep 1: Citizens for Justice and Peace, an NGO helmed by rights activist Teesta Setalvad, said on Sunday that those left out of the NRC should immediately get hold of a copy of the exclusion order, which would enable them to file appeals before tribunals in stipulated time.
The NGO also said that the nitty-gritty and modalities for filing the appeals were still awaited.
Every excluded person will need access to a "certified copy of the exclusion order and the list of documents submitted by them to the NRC authorities", CJP Secretary Teesta Setalvad said in a statement.
"We hope the authorities make the documents available at the earliest and clarify whether the deadline of 120 days starts after these documents are accessed," she pointed out.
The updated National Register of Citizens (NRC), which identifies bona fide Indian citizens in Assam, was published on Saturday.
A total of 3,30,27,661 people had applied for inclusion in the register. Of them, 19,06,657 were excluded, a statement from the NRC State Coordinator's office said.
Those excluded have 120 days to appeal against it at Foreigners Tribunals. If not satisfied with the verdict of the tribunals, they can move the High Court and the Supreme Court for redress.
Given the stakes involved, it is "crucial that these Foreigners' Tribunals function transparently, following acceptable and standardized processes of allowing appeals and evidence", the CJP statement said.
The NGO's objective, after the publication of the final NRC, is to help the excluded people defend their citizenships before the Foreigners' Tribunals, it added.
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Security forces destroy 23 illegal bunkers, seize 18 IEDs in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): Security forces have destroyed 23 bunkers illegally constructed in Manipur's Ukhrul and seized 18 IEDs in Tengnoupal district in separate operations, a police statement said on Saturday.
The bunkers were destroyed on Thursday in the hill villages of Mongkot Chepu, Shongphel, Mullam, Sirarakhong and Ringue in Litan police station area, it said.
A 12-bore pump action gun, 17 cartridges of different calibres and 111 empty cases of fired bullets were also seized.
At least seven people have been shot dead in different firing incidents and more than 30 houses have been torched since violence broke out between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities in Ukhrul district in February this year.
Meanwhile, in a separate operation on Wednesday, security forces seized a cache of arms and explosives in T Bongmol village in Moreh police station area in Tengnoupal district.
Two single-barrel rifles, four 9mm pistols with magazines and 18 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were seized. The explosives were destroyed on the spot, it added.
