Uttar Pradesh has started implementing a process of identification of illegal migrants residing in the State which has led to speculations that the State is carrying out an exercise similar to the lines of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.
State Director General of Police (DGP) O P Singh has forwarded a letter to all the police officers of the State to start the process of finding illegal migrants residing in various corners of the State.
As per a letter which was released to the media on Tuesday, Singh stated that it has been noticed that many Bangladeshis are living illegally in the state with most of them gone missing.
He also wrote that the process of identifying and verifying Bangladeshis and other foreigners in the state is quite necessary in order to strengthen the state’s internal security.
The DGP stated that places like railway colonies, bus stations, new colonies and roadside locations where illegal migrants mostly seek shelter should be identified and verified and the whole exercise should be recorded on video.
He also asked the police to find out the type of documents procured by the illegal migrants to legalize their stay in the state.
Apart from cancelling such kinds of illegal documents, the DGP also ordered that strict action should be taken against those concerned people who have helped the illegal migrants in procuring fake identity documents.
He also said that fingerprints of illegal migrants should be taken and sent to the state’s fingerprints bureau, where district-wise details should be kept.
Singh also wrote that construction companies should be urged to keep a complete profile of the labourers working with them.
The DGP denied that the process of identifying illegal migrants in the state has nothing to do with NRC.
He also claimed that the state police have been implementing this process from a long time.