Assam Government to Withdraw Foreigner Tribunal Cases: The Assam government will withdraw cases against members of the Koch-Rajbongshi community pending in Foreigners Tribunals. This will benefit at least 28,000 people.
Removal of “D Voter” Tags: The government will consider removing “D voter (doubtful voter)” tags from the voters’ lists of affected Koch-Rajbongshi individuals.
Reasoning: Many of these cases involve individuals with surnames common within the Koch-Rajbongshi community who have had to prove their Indian citizenship.
Koch-Rajbongshi Identity: The Koch-Rajbongshi community is an indigenous ethnic group primarily residing in Assam, West Bengal, and Meghalaya, comprising the Koch and Rajbongshi groups.
Historical Context: The Koches historically ruled parts of Assam, Bengal, and Bihar. The Rajbongshis were originally part of the Koch dynasty but developed a distinct identity.
Demand for ST Status: The community is seeking recognition as a Scheduled Tribe in Assam and other states for access to government welfare and legal protections.
Current Status: The Koch-Rajbongshi community is currently recognized as Other Backward Class (OBC) in Assam.
