Dimapur Naga Students' Union demands strict ILP enforcement in Dimapur

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• DNSU officials during a press conference on Saturday. (EM Images)

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• DIMAPUR — The Dimapur Naga Students' Union (DNSU) has urged Nagaland government to implement an effective and robust mechanism for enforcing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Dimapur.
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• Failure to enforce ILP would amount to a ‘non-violent genocide’ of the Naga people's ethnic identity, said Rukewezo Wetsah, the assistant general secretary of DNSU, during a press conference on Saturday.
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• He stated that various civil society groups in Dimapur have repeatedly urged the government to strictly enforce the ILP. In response, on November 20, 2024, the government issued a notification announcing the implementation of ILP in Dimapur, with three categories: December 1, 1963, as the cut-off year for the first category; November 21, 1979, for the second category; and the third category for those who settled in Dimapur on or after November 22, 1979.
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• Various civil society organisations have consistently appealed to the government to strictly enforce the ILP, but the government has often cited bureaucratic procedures and lack of manpower as reasons for the delay, he added.
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• The general secretary of DNSU, Michael Kath, also stated that Dimapur has undergone rapid development and become a melting pot of diverse communities.
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• Pointing out that Nagaland is a unique state with its own distinct culture, history, and geopolitical significance, he said this is the reason why DNSU is strongly advocating for the strict implementation of ILP.

Also read: Delayed ILP implementation threatens indigenous identity, says Dimapur Naga Students' Union

• He further stated that implementing the ILP would help protect the indigenous tribes and their diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. It would also prevent cultural dilution and encroachment by regulating the entry of non-locals, thereby safeguarding the identity and integrity of the state.
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• When asked about the Marwari Samaj's requests to the government to allow non-Naga permanent residents of Nagaland to acquire land in the Dimapur municipal area, DNSU president Hinoto Aomi responded by saying that the Naga people have shed blood and sacrificed many lives to protect their identity, land, culture, and traditions, and their ancestors fought for the protection of Article 371A.
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• He also questioned the very existence of Marwari Samaj, pointing out that its foundation is meant to protect their identity, culture, traditions, and customs.
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• Aomi stated that if they truly care for the Nagas, they should support the Naga people. He emphasised that the ILP is meant to identify illegal immigrants.
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• He added that the Assam government has set March 25, 1971, as the cut-off year and emphasised that, even if they couldn't deport all immigrants, enforcing the law still serves to protect Assam's indigenous people.
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• He suggested that if there are no official documents prior to December 1, 1963, at least some form of documentation should be provided and authenticated. He added that DNSU will be holding a consultative meeting with non-locals in Nagaland to help them understand that the ILP is not intended to target them.