Kolkata: For more than two years, Asgar Ali — the first victim of NRC from Bengal — has been at Goalpara detention centre in Assam following an anomaly in his father’s name. The Supreme Court’s order last Monday, directing authorities to release all “foreigners” detained in that state in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, will finally set Asgar free on Tuesday.Born in Kolkata’s Park Circus, Asgar began working as a carpenter in Guwahati in 1980s. On July 14, 2017, he was sent to detention camp after being labelled a foreigner by Foreigners’ Tribunal under NRC. According to his youngest brother Arshad Ali, their father’s decision to change his name years ago posed a problem.“Our father’s given name is Sheikh Morol. He was often asked if he was actually a morol (village head). So, he changed his name to Md Jarif,” Arshad said, adding that Asgar had submitted affidavits but the tribunal was not satisfied that Morol and Jarif were the same person. “It observed that Sheikh Morol was an Indian, but Md Jarif was not. Hence, Jarif’s son Asgar Ali was a ‘foreigner’.”Asgar’s nephew Zeeshan Ali in Guwahati said: “My uncle is registered as a voter in Bengal. In 2015, a notice was served, stating that he had been marked as a ‘doubtful voter’ or ‘D-voter’ in Assam.” Asgar will finally reunite with his wife and 14-year-old son in Guwahati on Tuesday.His lawyer Aman Wadud said: “He cannot travel to Kolkata now, but once the lockdown is lifted, we will seek special permission.”In Kolkata, family members feel their prayers have been answered. “We are exceptionally happy... A pandemic has finally brought us some good news,” Arshad said.Full report on www.toi.in