Picture for representational purpose only.

SILCHAR: A family at a village near Silchar called off their daughter's wedding after the prospective groom could not provide his citizenship credentials.

Dilwar Hussain Laskar (30) and Ravina (name changed) from Nayagram village had been in a relationship for quite some time. "They had approached their families seeking their blessings. Their families agreed and set a date for the wedding," a family member said.

Less than a month later, Ravina's family got cold feet. Their concern - had Dilwar made it to the NRC ? "I couldn't let my daughter marry a man whose citizenship can be questioned. Her citizenship would also be under the scanner then," Ravina's father, Kutub Uddin Barbhuiya, said.

Dilwar failed Kutub's test. He was among the 40 lakh people across Assam who had not made it to the draft NRC, published in July last year. The final NRC is not out yet, but Kutub took no chances. Little is known about what happens to those who do not make it to the final NRC, which will be published on August 31.

They can appeal against the NRC verdict at foreigners' tribunals, the Gauhati high court, and, finally, in the Supreme Court. What happens to them in the interim, again, is not known.

Kutub called off the wedding last week. Though Dilwar's family tried to reason with Kutub, he was adamant. But so was the couple. On Saturday, Dilwar and Ravina eloped.

The scene of action then moved to the Silchar police station. Kutub filed a complaint, on the basis of which an FIR was filed, that Dilwar had abducted his daughter.

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