In order to keep illegal immigration of illegitimate nationals at bay, the Majuli district administration in Assam has made it mandatory for the contractors and those involved in engagement of labourers to get the identity of labourers verified by the border branch of the State police before pushing them to work in the Island district.
Majuli Deputy Commissioner Pallab Gopal Jha confirmed this on Saturday and said that the step has been taken in the interest of maintaining peace and tranquility in the Island district as well as to check the immigration of illegitimate nationals in Majuli district.
“In view of apprehension expressed by a section of people and several organisations of Majuli regarding engagement of labourers by some contractors and others in several developments projects and as people and organisations of Majuli are expressing doubt in the nationality of such labourers engaged from the other districts,” said the order issued on Saturday.
The order came days after some students’ organisation in the river Island rounded up close to 30 men, women and infant children who are suspected to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Although the locals handed them over to the police, they are later released.
“Majuli district administration do hereby direct all concerned contractors and placement agencies, project heads and entrepreneurs to submit a list stating details of such labourers engaged in Majuli from outside the district as per format annexed herewith before the concerned police station prior to their engagement in the development projects,” the order said.
It may be mentioned here that Majuli the largest human inhabited river Island in India became a district only last year after the BJP led alliance assumed power in the State. Earlier it used to be subdivision of Jorhat district, which is also the top seat of neo-Vaishnavite culture propagated by 15th century Saint and reformer of Assam, Srimanta Sankardeva.