Two districts of Assam — Barpeta and Kamrup — have repeatedly surfaced during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive being carried out across slum settlements in Lucknow, prompting authorities to step up scrutiny and cross-verification of identity documents.
The SIR exercise, conducted by the Lucknow Police and the Lucknow Municipal Corporation, involves door-to-door verification of residents living in informal settlements to check identity papers and residency status. Officials said that during checks in several slum clusters, a significant number of residents claimed Barpeta or Kamrup as their native districts.
The pattern has been noticed across multiple localities, including Gudamba, Dubagga, Indira Nagar, Khadra and Bijnour, officials said. The repeated mention of the same two districts — located nearly 1,500 km away from Lucknow — has raised questions among enforcement agencies.
According to senior officials associated with the drive, many residents under verification have produced documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards or references to NRC-related paperwork from Assam, claiming long-standing roots in the state before migrating to Uttar Pradesh in search of livelihood opportunities. However, authorities noted that a section of those verified were either unable to produce complete documentation or submitted papers that require further authentication.
Officials said the administration is now examining whether the similarity in native districts reflects genuine migration patterns or if there is a possibility that people are being coached to cite the same districts during verification. “Cross-checks with Assam authorities and database verification are being carried out wherever inconsistencies are found,” an official said.
The SIR drive is aimed at identifying undocumented residents, verifying legal status and updating municipal and police records. Authorities have clarified that the exercise is not targeted at any particular community but is part of a broader effort to ensure accurate population data and lawful residency in urban slum areas.
Residents who fail to produce valid documents are being asked to cooperate with officials for further verification. The administration has said that any action will be taken strictly in accordance with the law, while ensuring due process.
The repeated reference to Barpeta and Kamrup has once again drawn attention to inter-state migration from Assam and the challenges of documentation and verification in rapidly expanding urban settlements like Lucknow.
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