NESO rally demands deportation of illegal immigrants

Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), under the banner of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), staged a sit-in protest at Naga Solidarity Park, here on Monday demanding immediate and stricter measures to curb the influx of illegal immigrants into the Northeast region.
Chairing the programme, NESO state coordinator, Ejanthung Ngullie, stressed on the urgent need for stronger mechanisms to regulate the entry of outsiders through the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, enacted under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) of 1873. He said the ILP was being currently implemented only in four North Eastern states and felt that the system should be extended and strictly enforced across the entire region in order to safeguard indigenous communities, their cultural heritage, and the demographic balance.
Ngullie also called for detection and deportation of illegal immigrants, complete sealing of the Indo-Bangladesh border, and strengthening of border security in vulnerable areas with advanced surveillance technology.
He also underscored the importance of coordination among North Eastern states to prevent the relocation of migrants from one state to another. He said NESO has sought legal and policy safeguards to protect indigenous rights, culture, language, political and land ownership, along with the setting up of a special review committee to study population explosion in certain areas.
Addressing the rally, NSF president, Medovi Rhi, questioned the seriousness of the state government in implementing ILP. He said that the issue of illegal immigration had persisted for decades without effective redress.
NESO general secretary, Mutsikhoyi Yhobu, cautioned about long-term demographic threats on indigenous people by citing the example of Tripura and Assam where similar demographic shift was evident.
He urged that the ILP system should revert to its original form as a “pass” rather than a “permit”.
Former general secretary of NSF, Elu Ndang, described the unchecked influx of illegal immigrants as “deadlier than diseases like cancer” since it threatened to submerge indigenous populations.
He alleged that ILP in Nagaland had increasingly turned into a tool for business rather than protection, and called upon the Government of India to take urgent corrective measures.
The rally at Kohima was part of a coordinated sit-in protest organised simultaneously across seven North Eastern states.
During the protest, NESO submitted a memorandum to respective state governments pressing for comprehensive action against illegal immigration.
A memorandum addressed to the Nagaland chief minister urged the Centre to take strict measures for the detection and deportation of illegal migrants and to seal the Indo-Bangladesh border. NESO also called for stronger border control in vulnerable areas through adequate deployment of security personnel and the use of modern surveillance technology.
It also demanded coordination among North Eastern states and agencies to prevent relocation of migrants within the region, legal safeguards to preserve indigenous rights, culture, language, political and land ownership. NESO demanded formation of a special review committee to study and address population growth in specific areas.