Sneak-in scan on Bhutan border ...to prevent the entry of those into the neighbouring country whose names are not there in the final Assam NRC.

TT, 13 Sep 2019, Alipurduar: The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has stepped up vigil on the porous IndiaBhutan border to prevent the entry of those into the neighbouring country whose names are not there in the final Assam NRC.

Although no such person has been caught on the border, personnel of the central paramilitary force are vigilant, particularly at Jaigaon ­ the bordering town of India in Alipurduar district that connects Phuentsholing, the principal entry point of Bhutan by land.

Usually, people walking into Phuentsholing are not checked thoroughly but at present everybody entering the Bhutan town is being checked by SSB personnel on the Indian side and is being asked to show their identity proofs.

Also, passengers in every car that is crossing the gate at the border and entering Bhutan are being checked, said SSB sources.

"We have intensified Sneak-in scan on Bhutan border checking on our side. In all three gates (two used by vehicles while the third one used by pedestrians people enter Phuentsholing from Jaigaon), we have deployed more personnel. They are checking documents of all the Indians entering in Bhutan either by car or by walking," Arvind Kumar, the Commandant of the 53 Battalion of SSB posted in Jaigaon.

In Assam, around 19 lakh people have not made it to the final draft of NRC that was published on August 31.

After the publication, analysts on international relations had hinted that it might have ramifications, as time and again, BJP leaders have pointed that NRC was taken up to identify Bangladeshi immigrants.

"In these days, the mutual relationship between India and Bhutan is very strong. Also, keeping in mind the incident of Dokalam standoff among the Indian and Chinese forces and the strategic location of Bhutan, India cannot afford to antagonize its neighbour.

"That is why it seems, security has been beefed us to prevent people whose names do not figure in NRC, to try and get into Bhutan," said an observer.

Sources in Jaigaon also revealed that if any resident of Assam is traced at the border while he is trying to enter Bhutan, his NRC details would be sought from him.

"If required, the data can be checked online to confirm that his name is there in the NRC. In that case, he would be allowed to enter Bhutan. But if it is found that his name is not there in NRC, he will be stopped from getting into the neighbouring country," said a source..