Kohima: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has once again raised serious concerns regarding the lax enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Nagaland, particularly in Dimapur district.
The NSF has written to the chief secretary of Nagaland on Wednesday, demanding the revocation of the suspension order of ILP in Dimapur and the stringent implementation of ILP across the state.
The student body said that along with its Federating Units, the NSF has been actively involved in verifying ILP holders in various districts of Nagaland and the Naga homeland.
According to them, their observations reveal a troubling trend of insufficient ILP enforcement, leading to an alarming influx of illegal immigrants posing a significant demographic threat to the indigenous population.
The ILP system, which has been in existence for 150 years, they said, plays a crucial role in regulating tourist flow and controlling the entry of illegal immigrants. However, the failure of successive governments to enforce ILP diligently has allowed illicit activities to thrive, endangering the unique identity and culture of the Naga people.
The NSF pointed out that the exclusion of Dimapur District (erstwhile) from the ILP regime, as per the suspension order dated June 2, 2023, has particularly raised concerns. Dimapur, known as a melting pot, has become a haven for illegal immigrants, posing a grave threat to Nagaland and the entire North Eastern region and the NSF emphasised that the preservation of identity, culture, and survival is at stake if urgent action is not taken.
Despite previous representations to the government urging effective ILP implementation, the NSF noted that necessary actions have not been taken. In a recent ILP verification drive conducted by the NSF, alarming numbers of ILP defaulters were detected, highlighting the government’s failure to create awareness about ILP requirements.
“In furtherance of our commitment, the NSF conducted an ILP Verification drive on February 27 and 28, 2024, with the aim of collecting data on the inflow of illegal immigrants and ILP defaulters. The results were alarming, with 637 defaulters detected and prevented from entering the ILP Zone. Most shockingly, a significant number of these defaulters were unaware of the ILP requirement, underscoring the government’s failure to create awareness,” the NSF said.
Furthermore, the NSF expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on ILP implementation in Dimapur (erstwhile) district to submit its report within the stipulated timeframe.
The NSF sought the revocation of the suspension order No.CON-3/PAP/65/10 dated June 2, 2023, and urged the government to bring Dimapur (erstwhile i.e., Dimapur, Chumoukedima, Niuland) under the ILP regime within 30 daysand establish all necessary mechanisms promptly.
They also suggested the establishment of ILP Monitoring Cells at Dimapur Railway station, Dimapur Airport, and all entry/exit points to Nagaland state to ensure effective enforcement and prevent illegal entries.
NSF urged the effective implementation of the ILP regime in all District Headquarters comprehensively and without delay, safeguarding the interests of our indigenous population.
The NSF also recommended the enhancement of the legal process and the need to take decisive action against ILP defaulters to deter future violations and strengthen the ILP enforcement framework.
According to the student body, there is need to launch extensive awareness campaigns to educate all communities residing in Nagaland about the mandatory requirement of the ILP for entry into the state.
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NSF made the plea to protect the identity, culture, and the very essence of the ‘Naga homeland’.
The NSF further emphasised that these demands are essential to protect the identity, culture, and future of the Naga homeland. The letter was signed by NSF president Medovi Rhi, and general secretary Chumben Khuvung.
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