NCD appeals public to help govt handle issue of ‘IBIs’, ILP

Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) has expressed deep concern over the possibility of influx of what it dubbed as “Illegal Bangladesh Immigrants (IBIs)” into Nagaland and has appealed to the Naga public to extend every possible help to state government in handling crucial issue of Inner Line Permit (ILP) and “IBIs.”
In a press release, NCD president Etsungmomo Kikon and general secretary LK Peter Anal lauded the “proactive actions” and timely “preventive measures” initiated by state government and civil society organisations (CSOs) including Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU), other student bodies, GBs, Dimapur Urban Colony Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) and chairmen of various colonies and villages ranging from Peren district to Mon district.
NCD claimed that so far “anti-IBIs influx actions” adopted were successful through “effective application of strategical defensive manoeuvres” by police, law enforcement agencies and Naga CSOs/tribal bodies at all the entry points along Nagaland-Assam border. “The perspective point of view regarding IBIs and ILP issue is that it is a lingering chronic and sensitive,” NCD said.
The council asserted that the process of solving the issue cannot be done in a short of period of time, adding that it needed “steadfast and steady steps” in educating the people concerned.
NCD has, however, said that any vested persons, taking the advantage of precautionary actions of government and CSOs, could project Nagas as discriminating other non-Naga communities “to tarnish the image of Nagas in outside world.” Therefore, NCD said the issue should be handled with optimum care.
Further, NCD urged the state government to “publicly declare” all those CSOs and agencies that were authorised to be guarantors or checking ILP etc.
The council has, however, cautioned that when government was trying its best to contain the issue with all forces/ agencies, public should not take advantages of it.
NCD said some impersonators taking advantages of ILP checking were collecting fee from non-Nagas, which it described was “another form of extortion.”
NCD has, therefore, suggested government to authorise the village authority in rural areas as well as colony chairmen or GBs etc for checking “systematically the IBI or ILP at grassroots level.”