GUWAHATI, July 21 -The State government is mulling to adopt a category-based surveillance mechanism for illegal immigrants who would be eventually left out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) since putting such a huge number of people in detention camps is not possible.
Once left out of the NRC, the illegal immigrants would largely be categorized based on criminal antecedents and their past records. As things stand today, the undocumented individuals would be classified in to at least four categories.
�There would be different surveillance mechanism for different categories of illegal immigrants. As of now, no decision in regard to their entitlements to movable or immovable properties has been taken,� official sources told The Assam Tribune.
�Once we know the exact size of the population, we would categorize them based on their criminal antecedents and other factors like age and health condition,� sources said, adding that a holistic biometric database will be a must.
�Those with criminal antecedents or individuals who had earlier absconded could be put as a closed group or could be put in the existing make-shift detention camps, although a final decision is yet to be taken in this regard,� sources said.
�There would a category for the old and the infirm, besides women and children as well,� sources added.
�Of course, there will be restriction on their movement,� sources asserted.
Sources further added that as was the case with the illegal foreigners released on bail, Indian surety would be a must.
As of March 2018, a total of 91,609 individuals were declared illegal foreigners by Foreigners Tribunals in Assam. Of this number, 72,486 are absconding.
The State is yet to have a full-fledged detention camp, although there are plans in this regard. The Centre has already approved a full-fledged detention camp in Goalpara, which will be first of its kind.
