Dimapur Naga Students’ Union condemns sexual assault of minor girl, reiterates call for stringent ILP enforcement

DIMAPUR — The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has strongly condemned the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old Naga girl by a non-local shopkeeper in the New Market area of Dimapur on July 6.

Calling the incident “a grave violation of human dignity,” the union has called for swift legal action and reiterated its long-standing demand for stringent implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Dimapur.

In a press release issued on Monday, the DNSU expressed its “profound outrage and unequivocally” condemned the incident, describing it as a direct assault on the safety and security of the Naga community, particularly its children. The union stated that it “stands in solidarity with the victim and her family during this traumatic time” and pledged full support in seeking justice.

Read here: 10-year-old girl allegedly sexually assaulted by shopkeeper in Dimapur’s New Market

The student urged the Dimapur Police, especially the Women Police Station, to conduct a “swift, thorough, and impartial investigation” and appealed to the judiciary to ensure a fast-track trial that would deliver “exemplary punishment” to the accused. “No stone should be left unturned in safeguarding the rights and well-being of our children,” it asserted.

Reiterating its position on ILP, the union stated that the incident “underscores the urgent and undeniable need for the stringent and comprehensive implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Dimapur.” It said the “unchecked influx and unregulated presence of non-locals pose a direct threat to the safety, cultural integrity, and land rights of the indigenous Naga people.”

The DNSU described the ILP as “not merely an administrative formality but a vital protective mechanism sanctioned by the spirit of Article 371A of the Indian Constitution.” It once again demanded a definitive cut-off year for ILP enforcement and urged the state government to “address all loopholes that allow illegal activities and exploitation by unscrupulous elements.”

The union also called upon civil society organisations and concerned citizens to stand united in demanding justice for the victim and ensuring that protective measures are in place to uphold the identity and security of the Naga community, and their land.

Also read: Nagaland Indigenous Peoples Forum flay sexual assault on a minor girl