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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | With Final NRC Draft to be Released in 20 Days, Assam Witnessing Rise in Suicides -Tarique Anwar

With Final NRC Draft to be Released in 20 Days, Assam Witnessing Rise in Suicides -Tarique Anwar

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published Published on Jul 20, 2018   modified Modified on Jul 20, 2018
-Newsclick.in

Activists have questioned the process of terming individuals as ‘doubtful’, alleging that some people are simply framed

Social and psychological trauma and mental and emotional insecurity are reportedly on the rise in many parts of the rural as well as the urban Assam where updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is going on a war footing in order to publish its second and final draft by July 30. Authorities refuse to state actual reasons behind the suicides, yet families and relatives of the deceased allege that it is linked to the fear of being declared ‘Doubtful Voter’ (D-voter) or stateless or foreigner or being sent to jail. Either way, personal, family and social life seem to be on the edge in India’s northeastern state.

Balijan Bibi (45), wife of Azbahar Ali (52), a resident of Oudubi village under Jogighopa police station of Bongaigaon – who is presently lodged in Goalpara detention centre – committed suicide this month after she felt that she is unable to bear the burden of the family and legal battle expenses.

Azbahar had been voting in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections since 1985 when his name first appeared in the electoral list. Because of a clerical error in his name (Azhar instead of Azbahar), he was listed as ‘D-voter’, and got a notice from the Foreigners’ Tribunal in 2012.

Azbahar had appeared before the Tribunal and had submitted all his documents – voter list since 1985, voter’s identity card and NRC of 1951, wherein the names of his grandparents are mentioned. While his case was being heard, he got two more notices asking him to prove his citizenship. Since the case was already under trial, he did not respond to the other notices. Ironically, he was reportedly declared a foreigner ex-parte and put behind bars on June 16, 2016.

Following the detention of the sole bread winner of the family, his wife began working as a domestic help to manage the expenses. But unable bear the burden, she decided to end her life leaving behind her four minor children.

The allegedly faulty and partial exercise of listing people as ‘D-voters’ is apparently creating rift in the families and is breaking relationships.

When Avala Rai of Bidyardabri village of Dubri district was dubbed as a ‘D-voter’ and got a notice, she was left with no option but to face the trial. But her husband, a daily wage labourer, was not so economically well off that he could fight the case. This created a conflict in the family. They used to have fights. On July 7, he reportedly thrashed his wife in a fit of rage and committed suicide the next day.

Gopal Das (65), who lived in Nisilamari village, was found dead on June 12 in a jungle near his house. Locals said he was distressed after he was declared ‘D-voter’. He allegedly chose death over his life, fearing the risk of losing identity or being declared stateless.

“A notice was issued to him by the Foreigners’ Tribunal. A lawyer agreed to respond to the notice only after we paid him Rs 300. When the proceeding began, we were asked in the third hearing by our counsel and the magistrate to search for someone to stand bail as there was a chance of our being arrested. We were also asked to pay Rs 15,000, alternatively, to avoid getting detained,” alleged Ganesh Das, son of the deceased.

Adding to his worries, Gopal’s daughter Shefali, who is 29 years old, also got a notice that asked her to prove her identity as an Indian citizen. “This further disturbed my father and he took the extreme step,” he said.

A first information report (FIR) has been registered at Tangla police station where the complainant has accused the lawyer and the judge of taking bribes.

Please click here to read more.

Newsclick.in, 12 July, 2018, https://newsclick.in/final-nrc-draft-be-released-20-days-assam-witnessing-rise-suicides


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