Assam Decides 2016: An identity battle on no man's land

BINNACHERA: While BJP has made illegal influx from Bangladesh and identity of Assam as an election issue, the voters along the Indo-Bangladesh border have to fight the identity battle day in and day out . These people in Binnachera, the border hamlet in the Indo-Bangladesh border which is 20 km from Dhubri, have their paddy field in no man's land and can cross the gate only thrice a day .

The barbed wire fencing has placed their land in the other side of the border, away from the pillar which demarcates border with Bangladesh. These villagers can cross the gate only during the notified time of the day 7 am to 8 am, 11 to 12 am and 3 pm to 5pm.

Ziraul Islam a resident of the area told ET, “We need to carry our identity card every time we move out.There is no chance to coming back home beyond the notified time even if there is any emergency home. I have around five bighas of land in the other side of barbed wire fencing.“ These villagers live under constant fear as anytime they can be branded as foreigners. The BJP has promised to stop infiltration from Bangladesh, if voted to power and will send back illegal immigrants who are already here. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi has challenged Prime minister Narendra Modi and Home minister Rajnath Singh to prove that congress regime in Assam has patronised and sheltered illegal immigrants.