Increased ID checks at Dimapur railway station

DIMAPUR — Although the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system is yet to be implemented in Dimapur district, authorities at Dimapur Railway Station have intensified checks on non-Naga passengers arriving at the station.

Police from Dimapur, the Government Railway Police Station (GRPS), and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) have been collecting data and verifying identification documents of all incoming non-Naga passengers.

An official from the railway station told Eastern Mirror that since the ILP is not yet implemented in the district, they do not check for the permit. Instead, they check documents for identity proof like Aadhaar card, electoral card, PAN card, address and contact number, and then submit the list to the higher authorities at the end of the day.

The official added that checks are conducted at all exit points, including the footbridge, on a rotational basis. So far, no illegal immigrants or individuals without proper identification have been detected.

While regular checks for illegal immigrants are conducted at the railway station, intensified scrutiny began on Sept. 2, 2024, another official said.

No orders received

Meanwhile, at the Nagaland gate in Dimapur, officials confirmed that no orders have been received to begin checking vehicles or documents of individuals entering the city. They are currently awaiting a standing order from the state government to officially begin checking for illegal immigrants.

A concerned official expressed that checking for illegal immigrants needs to start as soon as possible to prevent future problems. However, beginning these checks would require an order from higher authorities.

Stating that it will not be an easy task and would require significant manpower to check every vehicle and individual entering the city, the official noted that it is “the need of the hour.”

This heightened scrutiny follows a recent state cabinet meeting where the government decided to implement the ILP regime under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 (BEFR Act) in three additional districts – Chümoukedima, Dimapur, and Niuland.