An Assam government official has been accused of involving in anomalies in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) update exercise.
The official in question allegedly involved in irregularities in checking documents of people from Chamaria and some nearby areas in Kamrup district.
According to reports, Kamrup DC Kamal Kumar Baishya had sent a report to the NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela around two months ago on the alleged irregularities by a former circle officer of Chamaria which came to light in 2018.
The report noted how the then circle officer allegedly made all the people under Chamaria revenue circle Original Inhabitants (OI) only to reduce his workload.
Because of this the NRC authorities, had to carry out re-verification of documents of these people.
The officer had allegedly ticked the OI column for all the people, including Hindus and Muslims, in the verification list, which lessened his burden for cross-checking the documents as well as the tedious process of finding out the family tree of the applicants.
The NRC authority has taken the report very seriously and is likely to recommend strong action against the erring civil servant.
The official was transferred from Chamaria early last year. A new circle officer was appointed in Chamaria, but he left the place within months seeking a voluntary transfer.
In the second half of 2018, the current circle officer was appointed.
The new circle officer along with the deputy commissioner informed the NRC authority about the irregularities and started the process of reverification.
Notices for reverification were served across the south of Kamrup district to about 33,000 people, asking them to appear within 48 hours in NRC Seva Kendras (NSKs), in upper Assam districts.