Centre sends additional CPMF personnel ahead of NRC publication

GUWAHATI: With Assam all set to publish final draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) on July 30, the Centre has started sending additional companies of central para military forces (CPMF).

According to intelligence inputs, militant outfit may stoke trouble, taking advantage of the NRC publication. Concerns have been shared over several unscrupulous elements who may also pose a threat. The move follows Assam government's request for had sought additional 150 companies of CPMF.

A senior police officer, who does not want to be quoted, told ET: “Centre has started sending the CPMF; we are using the same for area domination.”


He went on to say: “The district administration has already identified vulnerable pockets and a security plan for these areas have also been worked out.”

The additional director general of police (special branch), Pallab Bhattacharya, said: “Militant outfits might take the opportunity to register their presence before and even after the publication of NRC draft. The anti-talk ULFA observes martyrs day on July 27 and we have put the security machinery on alert.”

The ULFA has in the past carried out strikes on the day it observes as "martyrs day".

The first draft of the NRC was published on December 31, 2017 and it contained the names around 1.90 crore people living in Assam.