The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has called for urgent measures for enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Dimapur district and beyond. As part of the various measures, federation’s president Medovi Rhi and general secretary Chumben Khuvung in a memorandum to the chief secretary suggested immediate setting up of ILP cells at Dimapur railway station and airport. As these were the primary entry points to Nagaland, they said these must be equipped to streamline the inflow of individuals and prevent illegal immigrants from gaining access to the state.
Additionally, they recommended establishment of ILP monitoring cells at all entry and exit points to ensure a foolproof mechanism. They implored the government to enforce the ILP system comprehensively and without delay in all district headquarters. They said it was crucial to ensure strict enforcement of the mechanism, based on previous propositions and representations, adding that the government must exhibit necessary political will to fulfil this commitment.
The NSF leaders also proposed enhancement of the legal process and take action against ILP defaulters. They stressed that it was vital to make the consequences for violating the ILP system more stringent, dissuading potential offenders.
They informed the chief secretary that the federating units had been directed to actively monitor and verify any matter related to this issue. They declared that the federation was committed to conducting checks and verifications at any time and, in the event defaulters were detected, immediate action would be taken.
According to the duo, the ILP had been an integral part of the people’s history for the past 150 years, instrumental in regulating the flow of tourists and preventing the influx of illegal immigrants. However, they acknowledged with deep concern the challenges and lapses in the diligent execution of the ILP over the past six decades. They alleged that these oversights had allowed illicit activities to flourish, posing a significant threat to the indigenous population and their unique identity and culture.
They claimed that the NSF along with its federating units had been actively involved in the verification of ILP holders in various districts for several years. They stated that their consistent efforts had revealed the inadequate enforcement of the ILP in the state, leading to the alarming growth of illegal immigrants that now stood as the most substantial demographic threat to the indigenous population.
They pointed out that the implementation of ILP in Dimapur in particular, coupled with the lack of stringent enforcement of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BERF), 1873, had created a fertile ground for illegal immigrants.
They claimed that the presence of a substantial population with questionable identities in Dimapur was undeniable, as they lacked proper identification documents.
Noting that the consequences of allowing Dimapur to be overrun by individuals with questionable identities were dire, they cautioned that this situation posed a severe threat not only to Dimapur but also to the rest of Nagaland and the North-eastern hills.
“The very survival of our identity and culture is at stake, which could ultimately lead to societal destruction. Given Nagaland’s limited size and population, we are ill-equipped to handle such a formidable threat, potentially turning our own people into refugees in our homeland,” the memorandum stated.
The NSF leaders said they firmly believed that the chief secretary’s visionary leadership and decisive action could safeguard the future of Nagaland and protect the interests of its indigenous inhabitants. They declared that the federation was ready to collaborate with the state government to ensure the successful implementation of the ILP regime.