'D Voter' cases against Koch Rajbongshis dropped in Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma
'D Voter' cases against Koch Rajbongshis dropped in Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Digital Desk: The Assam government has stated that all pending cases against members of the Koch Rajbongshi community in Foreigners' Tribunals will be dropped, thus removing them from the 'D' or disputed voter list. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the news on Friday, describing it as a historic move.
"There are 28,000 cases pending in various Foreigners' Tribunals in the state against members of the community. The cabinet has made a historic decision to lift cases with immediate effect," Sarma said during a press briefing after the cabinet meeting.
The decision follows the state government's recognition of the Koch Rajbongshis as an indigenous people with strong roots in Assam's social and cultural fabric. "The people of this community are poor and have suffered greatly over the years," the chief minister explained.
Foreigners' Tribunals in Assam are established under the Foreigners Act of 1946 and the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order of 1964 to determine the citizenship status of people suspected of being illegal immigrants.
However, Assam currently has 100 such tribunals.
The Koch Rajbongshis, who have a substantial presence in Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and even parts of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, have long advocated for Scheduled Tribe classification.
The latest ruling is anticipated to offer relief to thousands of community members who have been unclear about their citizenship status for years.
