India to start verification of people residing in Indian enclaves from July 6

Verification of people living in Indian enclaves along India-Bangladesh border will start from July 6.

Officials of the ministries of home and external affairs, jointly with the state governments concerned, would carry out the survey, government sources said.
 
After verification of people living there, 111 border enclaves would be handed over to the Bangladesh government as per the Land Boundary Agreement, sources added.
 
During the intensive exercise, people living in the enclaves would be asked whether they would opt for Bangladeshi citizenship or would remain as Indians, officials said.
 
The ‘choice’ was, in fact, allowed by the incumbent government when the bill was passed in Parliament. The decision was taken to let the enclave dwellers to take their own free decision.
 
The verification process in Indian enclaves, official said, would be completed before July 31, the ‘Appointed Day’ for the exchange of enclaves.
 
As per the LBA, India will transfer 111 enclaves with a total area of 17,160.63 acres to Bangladesh, while Bangladesh would transfer 51 enclaves with an area of 7,110.02 acres to India.
 
Both countries will implement the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) of 1974 and Protocol of 2011, in a phased manner over the next 11 months.
 
Between July 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016, the entire process, including physical exchange of enclaves and land parcels in adverse possession along with boundary demarcation, is expected to be completed.
 
India and Bangladesh will print, sign at plenipotentiary level and exchange the strip maps of the un-demarcated sectors by the Appointed Day.  
According to the agreement, both governments will facilitate “orderly, safe and secure passage” of the enclave dwellers along with their “personal belongings and movable property” to Bangladesh or India through proper “travel documents.”
 
The passage will be arranged by the two governments by Nov 30 this year.​