Assam drops all ‘D Voter’ cases against Koch Rajbongshis: Himanta Biswa Sarma

The Assam government has announced the withdrawal of all pending cases against members of the Koch Rajbongshi community in Foreigners’ Tribunals, effectively removing the ‘D’ or doubtful voter tag from them. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement on Friday, calling it a historic decision.

“There are 28,000 cases pending in different Foreigners’ Tribunals in the state against people of the community. The cabinet has taken a historic decision of lifting the cases with immediate effect,” Sarma said at a press conference following the cabinet meeting.

The decision stems from the state government’s recognition of the Koch Rajbongshis as an indigenous community, deeply embedded in Assam’s social and cultural fabric. “The people of this community are poor and have suffered a lot over the years,” the chief minister added.

Foreigners’ Tribunals in Assam, set up under the Foreigners Act of 1946 and the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order of 1964, determine the citizenship status of individuals suspected to be illegal immigrants. Assam currently has 100 such tribunals.

With a significant presence in Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and even parts of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, the Koch Rajbongshis have long demanded Scheduled Tribe status. The latest decision is expected to provide relief to thousands within the community who have faced uncertainty over their citizenship status for years. (PTI)