Assam: Family Refuses to Accept Body of Man Declared Foreigner

The death of a 65-year old mentally unstable man whowas declared a foreigner two years ago has left the Assam administration in afix after the family refused to accept his body saying they would not take thebody of Bangladeshi.

Dulal Paul was lodged at a detention camp in Assam and died on October 12 at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital after he was admitted with deteriorated health.

Paul was a resident of Alisinga village under the Dhekiajuli police station and was lodged at the detention camp at Tezpur since October 11, 2017 after he was declared a foreigner.

He was admitted at GMCH following his deterioratinghealth on September 28 and died on October 12. But his family member refused toaccept his body saying that he was a Bangladeshi. Their argument is "how can weaccept the body of a declared foreigner."

Dulal Paul's son Ashok Paul said that they will onlyaccept his body when the government declares him an Indian citizen. Ashok said,"We will not accept the body of a foreigner until and unless the governmentdeclares him an Indian citizen. Although he is my father, we will accept hisbody once the government will remove the foreigner tag."

Family members of Dulal said that all other members of the family have been included in the final NRC and it was only Dulal's name which has not be published despite the documents. He was declared a foreigner and was sent to the detention camp.

Meanwhile, Sonitpur ADC Kulen Sarma has said that amagisterial inquiry will be conducted in the matter.