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Photos: Fear grips Assam’s ‘stateless’ millions as NRC deadline looms

Some four million people were left off a draft National Register of Citizens published in July in Assam. Those not on the list can challenge their omission by providing certain documents, but many lack the paperwork and time is running short as a December 31 deadline looms. What will happen to those who still don't make the cut remains to be seen -- with some hardliners calling for mass deportations. Less than two weeks before the deadline, only around 1.5 million people left off the draft list have submitted claims to be included, the Assam government says.

Updated on: Dec 22, 2018 12:12 PM IST

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Yarjan Nesa, 60, feeds cows near her house at Karaibil village in Kamrup district, Assam. Her husband Nur Mohammed can barely sleep for worrying that his wife might soon be made stateless, put in a detention camp and deported. “We are genuine Indian citizens,” said Mohammed, 66, his voice low and quivering. (Biju Boro / AFP)

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 12:12 PM

Yarjan Nesa, 60, feeds cows near her house at Karaibil village in Kamrup district, Assam. Her husband Nur Mohammed can barely sleep for worrying that his wife might soon be made stateless, put in a detention camp and deported. “We are genuine Indian citizens,” said Mohammed, 66, his voice low and quivering. (Biju Boro / AFP)

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Employees of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in a centre at Hatisola village, Kamrup district. Yarjan is one of four million people left off a draft NRC published in July. The list excludes all those unable to prove they were in the state before 1971, when millions fled Bangladesh’s war of independence and sought refuge in Assam and elsewhere. (Biju Boro / AFP)

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 12:12 PM

Employees of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in a centre at Hatisola village, Kamrup district. Yarjan is one of four million people left off a draft NRC published in July. The list excludes all those unable to prove they were in the state before 1971, when millions fled Bangladesh’s war of independence and sought refuge in Assam and elsewhere. (Biju Boro / AFP)

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Those born in Assam after 1971 have to prove that their parents or grandparents entered India before that. But getting hold of documents in a state where many are illiterate and lack even basic papers is a challenge. Less than two weeks before the deadline, only around 1.5 million people have submitted claims to be included, the Assam government says. (Biju Boro / AFP)

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 12:12 PM

Those born in Assam after 1971 have to prove that their parents or grandparents entered India before that. But getting hold of documents in a state where many are illiterate and lack even basic papers is a challenge. Less than two weeks before the deadline, only around 1.5 million people have submitted claims to be included, the Assam government says. (Biju Boro / AFP)

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Villagers gather to check their documents at a NRC help centre at Hatisola village. “There is large-scale illiteracy in our area, people don’t have access even to basic education,” said Akram Hussain, an activist helping people file claims. “They have been living like this for ages but now all of a sudden they are being asked to bring documents to prove their identity.” (Biju Boro / AFP)

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 12:12 PM

Villagers gather to check their documents at a NRC help centre at Hatisola village. “There is large-scale illiteracy in our area, people don’t have access even to basic education,” said Akram Hussain, an activist helping people file claims. “They have been living like this for ages but now all of a sudden they are being asked to bring documents to prove their identity.” (Biju Boro / AFP)

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Yarjan Nesa and her husband Nur Mohammad leave their house. Yarjan submitted a certificate issued by the head of her village to establish her link with her mother, but it was rejected. “I do not have any other document as I have never been to school or never had a bank account anywhere,” she said. (Biju Boro / AFP)

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 12:12 PM

Yarjan Nesa and her husband Nur Mohammad leave their house. Yarjan submitted a certificate issued by the head of her village to establish her link with her mother, but it was rejected. “I do not have any other document as I have never been to school or never had a bank account anywhere,” she said. (Biju Boro / AFP)

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Assam has seen many major influxes, beginning when the British brought in Bengalis to work on tea plantations. Immigration continued after independence and today Bengali speakers like Baharjan Nesa, 88, make up around 30% of Assam’s 31 million people. The first, failed, attempt at screening in Assam was made in 1951. (Biju Boro / AFP)

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 12:12 PM

Assam has seen many major influxes, beginning when the British brought in Bengalis to work on tea plantations. Immigration continued after independence and today Bengali speakers like Baharjan Nesa, 88, make up around 30% of Assam’s 31 million people. The first, failed, attempt at screening in Assam was made in 1951. (Biju Boro / AFP)

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Critics say the process is being used by the BJP -- which runs Assam -- to stoke anti-Muslim feelings ahead of elections in 2019. UN special rapporteurs expressed “serious concerns” in a recent letter to the government about the process “stoking ethnic tensions”. Abdul Kalam Azad, a local researcher and activist, says he has recorded at least 26 related suicides since the NRC process began in 2015. (Biju Boro / AFP)

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 12:12 PM

Critics say the process is being used by the BJP -- which runs Assam -- to stoke anti-Muslim feelings ahead of elections in 2019. UN special rapporteurs expressed “serious concerns” in a recent letter to the government about the process “stoking ethnic tensions”. Abdul Kalam Azad, a local researcher and activist, says he has recorded at least 26 related suicides since the NRC process began in 2015. (Biju Boro / AFP)

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Activists say claims get rejected due to minor errors and that even some officials are confused. Once the December 31 deadline has passed, a “verification” process begins in February. Ominously, 1,037 people including 31 minors have already been put in six detention camps. Reports say a seventh camp with capacity for 3,000 people is being built. (Biju Boro / AFP)

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 12:12 PM

Activists say claims get rejected due to minor errors and that even some officials are confused. Once the December 31 deadline has passed, a “verification” process begins in February. Ominously, 1,037 people including 31 minors have already been put in six detention camps. Reports say a seventh camp with capacity for 3,000 people is being built. (Biju Boro / AFP)

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Even if people aren’t moved to camps or ejected, becoming effectively stateless could make normal life, accessing healthcare or education, much tougher. “Am I also going to be detained?” asked Baharjan Nesa who was left off with her son and daughter-in-law even though she has a copy of a 1954 electoral roll featuring her father’s name. “I don’t know what to do. Where do I get another document from?” (Biju Boro / AFP)

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 12:12 PM

Even if people aren’t moved to camps or ejected, becoming effectively stateless could make normal life, accessing healthcare or education, much tougher. “Am I also going to be detained?” asked Baharjan Nesa who was left off with her son and daughter-in-law even though she has a copy of a 1954 electoral roll featuring her father’s name. “I don’t know what to do. Where do I get another document from?” (Biju Boro / AFP)

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