The issue of illegal immigrants in Nagaland is known by all but Nagas like waking up only when a storm hits the house. Just a few months back, Nagas witnessed an eye opening incident of illegal immigrants making netizens engaged in thought provoking debate and discussion about an alarming influx of immigrants in the state also prompting the govt of Nagaland to implement certain regulations to check the influx of illegal immigrants but before we go down the road of ILP, it is pertinent to know how and why ILP, i.e. Inner Line Permit was implemented and its chronology to grasp and absorb the issue for a better understanding.
The British India govt on 1 Nov 1873 introduced Bengal Frontier Regulation in India and under the regulation, Inner Line Permit system was introduced in certain North Eastern Hills Districts. It was applied in the District of Nowgong, Darrang, Lakhimpur, Sibsagar, Kamrup, Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, Garo Hills, Cachar Hills and the Naga Hills. Under this regulation, it authorised the local govt to prohibit even the British subjects or persons entering from outside into the Naga hills without possessing a pass or permit. Incase if anyone passed beyond the demarcated line, they have to pay a fine of INR 500 or imprisonment of 3 months for repeated offences. It also authorises local govt to cancel or prohibit the ILP whenever necessary. No British subjects or other persons were allowed to purchase or acquire any land or product of land besides other prohibitions. Inner Line Permit was applied on 24th Feb 1882 in sibsagar district towards Nagas in the Naga hills. The reason for implementation was primarily for three reasons, the govt was reluctant to administer the Frontier Tribes in governance directly, so what are frontier tribes- they are known by the names- Nyishis, Daflas, Mishmis, Abors- Adis, Miris, Singhpos, Khamtis, Bhutias, Lushais, Akas and Nagas.
Secondly, ILP was introduced to isolate the hill tribes and to protect and control unrestricted commercial business between the Hills and the plains from the cunning traders of plains and exploiting the tribals.
Thirdly, to demarcate the British administration restricting people’s movement from certain points inorder to identify certain territory or areas through the particular line so as to protect british subjects working in the tea garden around the boundary areas of Assam and the Naga Hills from the marauding Nagas.
As per the Govt of Indian Act 1919 and 1935 states ILP was introduced to protect the Hills tribes from the more advanced people of the plains from exploiting their resources, to check illegal traders and commercial activities.
In 1873-74 Hills districts like Khasi hills, Garo Hills, Jaintia and Naga Hills were declared as the Scheduled districts brought under the chief commissioner of Assam. By Scheduled districts Act, it empowered the Chief Commissioner over the Frontier Tracts for maintaining peace and good governance. The inner line regulation 1873 was further strengthened by Assam Frontier Tracts Regulation 1880. Under the govt of India Act 1919, a provision was made to safeguard backward tribes and therefore the hill tribes were kept out from the constitutional reforms.
As when Simon commission visited the Naga Hills in 1929, Naga Club submitted a memorandum and therefore Simon commission also recommended to keep the frontier tract out of the provincial jurisdiction of the govt of India. Thus, the govt of India Act 1935 made a special provision for the Frontier Tracts and the other Hill tribes and consequently these Frontier tracts was kept under the ‘Excluded Area’. Lushai hills, Balipara tracts, North Cachar, Sadiya tracts, Lakhimpur tracts and Naga Hills were declared as excluded area with the administration under the governor of Assam on 3rd March 1936. In 1937, Tribal affairs department under a secretary was opened in Assam with J.P mills as advisor on tribal affairs and in 1943 under the governor of Assam. in 1938- Naga Hills District was formally declared as Excluded Area.
After 1866, after British headquarter was established at Samaguting also known by the name Nicheguard or nichugate, Prohibition was also imposed on the Nagas as Nagas needed to surrender their arms and weapons at the gate to enter into Dimapur for carrying out any sort of business with the plains.
In Oct 1946, NNC also passed a resolution demanding Deputy Commissioner to prohibit entry of any political party into Naga Hills without the consent of NNC. On the 16 point agreement by the Naga Peoples Convention, point 16 in the agreement referred the inner line permit and continuation of implementation of the protected area act 1958. ILP was partially lifted in 2011 permitting foreign national’s free movement within the confinement of Nagaland state.
Whatever the different purposes, reason or strategic policies of the British govt behind the implementation of the ILP system under the BEFRA 1873, it is certainly clear that British had protected the Naga customs, culture, traditions, religion from outside exploitation and interferences by Isolating the administrative region under its control but at the current scenario, this same protected hills are a breeding ground of the immigrants, a paradise destination of many illegal immigrants especially from Bangladesh and Myanmar. Who are safely sheltered through religious affinity and affiliations.
A report in a media, ’ Another Bangladeshi Destination’ in reference to Dimapur clearly indicates an alarm on the influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Dimapur as this area is not fully covered by the ILP, it was brought under the purview only on 23 April 2023 after so much hue and cry from the public and pressure given by the Naga civil bodies. Chumoukedima and Niuland after districthood on July and September 2022 brought under purview of ILP respectively but it is surprising that out of probable estimated number of about a lakhs of influx immigrants just a few are recorded, Govt of Nagaland reported that between January to 16 Sept 2022. Only 15,851 ILP were reported to be issued by the govt.
Dimapur alone is believed to have more than lakhs of illegal immigrants. In 1999 under Dr.S.C Jamir govt, it was reported that about 60 thousand illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are in Dimapur. In 2003, the report by Nagaland State Directorate of Agriculture revealed that about 71.73 percentage of total commercial establishment in state were controlled by Non-Nagas. That only 28.27 percentage are owned by the Nagas which approximately figured to 6,722 out of 23,777 shops in the state. Astonishingly! As per 24 Sept 2022, approximately 45,815 shop establishments are controlled by non nagas in Nagaland earning an approx. figure of 450 crores annually.
Which conflicts an inflated 25% of Naga unemployed figure in the state, that 93,000 educated unemployed are registered in employment exchange Register as per 2022 report. Why are the Nagas failing to get even a small shop in their own homeland and outsiders occupy the best locations in the state ?
When we talk about the steps taken to check the influx of illegal immigrants. On 10 Aug 2003, NSF imposed restriction on Naga girls marrying illegal immigrants but how far it could check is being reflected in the increasing number of such marriages. Western Sumi Hoho passed a resolution too prohibiting but its effectiveness is always questionable. Between 1994-1997, Nagaland govt deported approx. 20,000 but reported that they returned back after sometime after procuring necessary documents from the neighboring states.
Lack of implementation of ILP has made Nagaland safe heaven for illegal immigrants claimed Naga students federation but even after implementation how effectively are the students bodies able to curb the influx in the state and in their own jurisdiction. illegal immigrants are a threat to security problem stated the then Home minister Y. Patton in 2014. The govt and the state politicians are aware of the threat and danger it would pose on the citizens of the state then why are they turning a deaf and dumb ear to such a grievous threat. Nagaland assembly discussed on Bangladeshi Illegal Immigrants in 2023 but are the Govt really concerned about the future Naga generations in terms of protecting their future. When Hornbill TV interviewed immigrants about the ILP, the journalist reported that majority of almost 98 percent of non nagas are not aware of what ILP is or never heard of it. Now, who is responsible for it? It was only in April 2023, Dimapur was brought under ILP.
Naga Civil bodies urged the govt to bring action plan to check the illegal immigrants on 8march 2018, and demanded introduction of RIIN- Register of Indigenous of Nagaland with cut off date as 1 Dec 1963. But govt set 21 Nov 1979, so accordingly Dimapur was brought under ILP with a cut out date of 1979 that those immigrants who entered dimapur after Nov 21 1979 were to obtain the ILP. But.... Are ILPs being checked properly at the khel level, village level or corruption still goes on bartering the future Naga generations with a petty sum of money. NSCM IM in 2000 report states that about 2 lakh illegal immigrants are in Dimapur yet we do not know whether any survey is being done by any of the other factions in the contemporary years, it is skeptical, the so many freedom fighters of the Naga country need to open their eyes that their country is already flooded and conquered by immigrants even before they bring Independence to the Nagas. Will they do something or just remain parasites, manoeuvring at the expense of sucking the blood of the Nagas through taxation, extortion or would they at least care to do something to protect the future Naga generations but when the Naga factions themselves started employing immigrants as national workers to collect taxation from the Nagas on their behalf what can the Nagas expect from our own when they are now becoming Rakshas.
Thankfully the Ao students union took up the resolution as far back as 2000's on free illegal immigrant policy for Mokokchung, they protected their future generations from the exploitation by preserving their future.
Similarily Chumoukedima tribal union in 2017, Medziphema Town Youth Organization in 2006, 2019, Western Sumi Hoho in 2018 and few other Tribal organisations and villages passed a resolution to curb the illegal immigrants issue, recently Meriema village adopted a resolution prohibiting illegal immigrants within their village jurisdiction. It is surprising at the same time and gravely saddening to know that out of 1355 and 11 hamlet villages in Nagaland only few awakened villages are taking steps to preserve the identity and future of their younger generations.
If the colonisers, the British could care to protect and safeguard the Nagas from outsiders, why are the Nagas failing to protect and safeguard their own future generations?
After a fire broke incident at Burma camp, a non Naga was seen holding a machete resisting the firefighters, it showed how grievous the future time bomb of illegal immigrantx is and it is time for all tribes of Nagaland to take concrete steps to protect and preserve the identity and economy of the Nagas before being over shadowed by the immigrants transforming our lovely Nagaland into another Tripura.
Hokato Awomi
Activist and Assistant Professor.
hokatosumi@gmail.com