Dispur seeks more paramilitary forces

A Correspondent

NEW DELHI, July 4: In an attempt to maintain law-and-order situation in the State in the run-up to the final NRC publication, Dispur on Wednesday has sought more central paramilitary forces from the Union Home Ministry.

“We’ve asked for more central paramilitary forces. And we’re assured by the Centre that all possible help will be provided to maintain the law-and-order situation in the State,” said Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Kuladhar Saikia.

Saikia said that the issue of providing security to Assam NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela and his family members has also been discussed at the security review meeting in the Home Ministry.

The meeting was chaired by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba. Senior officials of the Home Ministry, including RGI Sailesh, Joint Secretary (NE) Satyendra Garg, IB chief Rajiv Jain, were present at the meeting. Dispur was represented by Chief Secretary PY Das, ADG SB Pallab Bhattacharya, Additional Chief Secretary Alok Kumar and Kuladhar Saikia, among others.

“We’ll take all possible steps to maintain the law-and-order situation in Assam. We’ve instructed the OCs of all police stations across the State to take strong actions against those who try to disturb peace. Special instructions have also been issued to monitor social networking sites,” said Saikia.

According to sources, Dispur has asked for more than 50 companies of central paramilitary forces to maintain law and order in the State.

Earlier, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had asked for 150 companies of Central paramilitary forces to maintain law and order ahead of the final NRC publications.

On Monday the Supreme Court set July 30, 2018 deadline for the publication of the complete draft NRC.