By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : Assam Police has clamped Section 144 of the CrPc in Guwahati city and all city of Assam  , as a precautionary measure ahead of the publication of the final draft NRC on August 31. Speaking to reporters  Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar informed, “The Section 144 has been imposed. From time-to-time, we keep reviewing the situation and imposing Section 144 whenever we feel like a situation of unrest might arise.” Kumar further made an appeal to the public to maintain peace and stability in the region. “The NRC is also about to be published, and that is why the Section 144 has been imposed,”, he added. The days in the lead up to the publication of the NRC final draft have seen their fair share of controversies. It has come to light that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) authorities are still conducting hearings with less than two days to go until the publication of the final draft NRC, on August 31.

A number of people, mostly from Biswanath district of Assam, have been summoned for hearings, which has evoked strong reactions from some indigenous organizations. It may be mentioned here that the demand for the NRC, a definitive document of citizenship, began in 1980, ahead of the Assam Agitation of 1985, which had a great impact on the State and culminated in the signing of the somewhat-controversial ‘Assam Accord’. A long spell of discussions and deliberations followed after the signing of the Assam Accord, and the Government of India and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) presided at the negotiating table for ten long years (1998-2008). Modalities were prepared from 2008-2013, and actual work, under the supervision of the Supreme Court, began in 2013.The circular further stated that Section 144 of the CrPC prohibits assembly of more than 5 persons, agitation, demonstration, processions and shouting slogans in the entire West Police District, East Police District and Central Police District in the city without prior permission from the competent authority. It also imposes prohibition from carrying arms/ammunition/explosive substances/weapons of any nature in public places or vehicles including two wheelers and three wheelers. Further, it prohibits all the organisations and people from holding a procession and shouting slogans inciting communal violence and also from shouting slogans in any public places or roads. As informed by all the three Deputy Commissioners of Police officials, it has come to light that some specified and unspecified persons or groups of persons or group of organisations are allegedly trying to disturb the normal functioning of the offices.