Post-NRC, NSF fears rise in influx of ‘illegal immigrants’ to Nagaland

Dimapur, Sep. 2 (EMN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has reiterated the need for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Dimapur in the light of “the exclusion of nearly two million (20 lakh) people” from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

“The lack of stringent implementation of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) 1873 and the exclusion of Dimapur district from the purview of ILP have made Dimapur district a safe haven for the illegal immigrants,” an NSF press release stated on Monday.

The NSF expressed dissatisfaction with the present passivity over the imposition of ILP in Dimapur and claimed that it has allowed the district to “flourish as the floodgate of illegal immigrants in the state.”

The NSF stated that it is imperative that the state government take action towards implementing ILP as notified on February 21, 2019 in the Assembly Budget Session, as the “threat to the Naga indigenous inhabitants being outnumbered by the populace of the illegal immigrants” is imminent.

The federation has further appealed to all its federating units as well as the citizens to remain “vigilant on the influx of non-locals and immigrants” which, it claimed, will increase in the coming days.

It also informed that the NSF and its federating units have been extensively conducting verification of ILP holders in various districts in the past many years.

“However, the lapses and the lack of sincerity within the state government in the implementation of ILP in the state of Nagaland in its entirety has done irreparable damage on the cultural, economic and demographic aspects, negating the very purpose of BEFR Act of 1873 which was enacted to protect and safeguard  the Naga ethnicity as an entity of the land and resources from the outsiders,” it stated.

DC Dimapur calls meeting 

The Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur Kevekha Kevin Zehol has called for a meeting on September 3 to discuss ‘precautionary measures due to publication of the final list of NRC in Assam.’ The meeting will start at 3.30 pm at the DC’s conference hall.

Copies of the invitation were sent to, among others, the commissioner of police, Dimapur; GB association; Dimapur Urban Colony Council Forum; and all colony chairman/GB under Dimapur sadar.