1.73 lakh illegal foreigners detected in Assam, only 31,789 repatriated: CM

Guwahati, Jul 6 (PTI) Only 1.73 lakh illegal immigrants have been identified so far as per the Assam Accord, and just over 31,700 of them have left the state, the Assembly was informed on Monday. In a written reply to a query from AGP MLA Diptimayee Choudhury, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said a total of 1,72,673 immigrants staying illegally in Assam have been detected till now. The government has so far been able to repatriate only 31,789 illegal foreigners from Assam, he added, without sharing details of their country of origin. Of them, 470 were deported, 29,663 pushed back, 1,572 sent back as per instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs and 84 expelled, the CM said. Besides, cases are going on for 73,759 more suspected illegal immigrants at Foreigners Tribunals (FTs), said Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio. As per the Assam Accord, names of all foreigners coming to Assam on or after March 25, 1971 would be detected, deleted from electoral rolls and steps would be taken to deport them. The CM further said that a total of 174 declared foreigners are presently lodged at the transit camp, earlier known as a detention camp, in Goalpara. PTI TR TR ACD