Student bodies unauthorised to issue ILP — Neiphiu Rio

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 22 (EMN): Following reports of student bodies issuing Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday stated that students unions are not authorised to issue ILPs and directed the Home department to check such initiatives.

‘As far as ILP is concerned, neither student bodies nor non-governmental organisations are authorised bodies to issue the permit. It is the duty of the Home department’, he said, while replying to a starred question during the 13th NLA session, in Kohima.

ILP should be enforced thoroughly and not be complacent about it, he told the Home department. The permit is “not fully” enforced in Dimapur due to the transit point. However, Niuland and Chumoukedima districts should be enforced with ILP, Rio added.

‘In the case of labourers, their employers are their ultimate guardians and should take responsibility. If labourers are caught violating, they along with their employers will be penalised’, he said.

The chief minister also said that people of the state cannot harass genuine Indian citizens.

‘But in fact should make things easy for non-Nagas who are doing businesses, jobs (both government and private), or labourers in the state. Otherwise, if we harass and chase them away, all of the activities in the state will come to a standstill. Further, the state government will be blamed if at all they take their case to the court,’ he stated.

He directed the Home department and the police to make the system available immediately for non-Nagas by issuing ID cards. Besides that, indigenous citizens should be made aware and educated on these matters, he added.

Inner Line Permit (ILP)

Further, giving an update on the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), Rio said that ‘all orders are not out but it is in a continuous process’.

‘Illegal immigrants threat to Nagas’

Meanwhile, NPF Legislature Party Leader Kuzholuzo Nienu said the issue of ‘illegal immigrants’ is a matter to be taken seriously.

‘Dimapur, our metropolitan district, is becoming a breeding ground for illegal immigrants, they are a growing threat to us Nagas, it’s gonna cost our upcoming generation very dearly.

‘Illegal immigrants with or without ILP are also an alarming threat, non-locals  possessing land properties are also one, if we don’t tackle this issue with seriousness and with an iron hand, Nagaland will become the second Tripura’, Nienu said.

He pointed out that the Centre has asked the state government to take prompt steps to identify ‘illegal immigrants’ staying in India and deport them.