Dimapur Naga Students' Union flags misuse of indigenous cert
Dimapur Naga Students' Union flags misuse of indigenous certificates
The Dimapur Naga Students' Union (DNSU) has expressed concern and condemnation over alleged escalating indigenous certificates being misused by certain non-Naga individuals
DIMAPUR — The Dimapur Naga Students' Union
(DNSU) has expressed concern and unequivocal condemnation over the alleged
escalating instances of fraudulent indigenous certificates being acquired and
misused by certain non-Naga individuals to illicitly claim indigenous status
within Nagaland.
In a press release on Thursday, the DNSU stated that such
deceitful practices not only directly infringe upon the rights of the
indigenous people of Nagaland but also pose a grave threat to the very social,
cultural, and legal framework safeguarding the unique identity and ancestral
land rights of the Naga community.
“After meticulous inquiry and rigorous verification, the
DNSU has uncovered compelling evidence that numerous individuals have obtained
indigenous certificates through deceptive means.
“These fraudulent documents are being systematically
exploited to unlawfully purchase or claim ownership of land and to avail
themselves of other benefits explicitly reserved for bonafide indigenous
citizens. This constitutes a direct affront to the fundamental rights of the
indigenous Naga populace and severely compromises the integrity of established
official processes,” the union stated.
Asserting that the “integrity of our indigenous identity and
the sanctity of our land rights are non-negotiable,” the union informed that it
is in the final stages of verifying the details of these fraudsters and will
expose those involved by making their names public.
“The DNSU is resolute in its commitment to transparency and
justice, and we will not hesitate to pursue all available avenues, including
robust legal recourse, to dismantle this nexus of corruption,” it stated.
The union also appealed to all civil society,
community-based organisations, and other stakeholders across Nagaland to
unequivocally reject and refrain from providing any form of shelter, support,
or advocacy for individuals proven to have forged or misused indigenous
certificates.
The union went on to state that enabling such actions
directly contributes to undermining indigenous rights and safeguards, while
also breeding corruption within the administrative systems.
The DNSU also appealed to all respective tribal and
community organisations to ensure that individuals holding public positions
within their organisations are entirely free from political party affiliations.
“It is paramount that leaders representing community
interests remain scrupulously impartial and dedicated solely to the welfare and
uplift of the community, rather than serving partisan political agendas.
“The DNSU emphasises that political bias or loyalty
invariably hinders genuine community development, compromises objective
decision-making, and often leads to the politicisation of critical issues that
demand a communal or cultural perspective,” the union stated.
Additionally, the union highlighted the alleged burgeoning
‘benami’ system widely practiced in Nagaland, which is actively exploited by
non-locals in connivance with unscrupulous Naga individuals, politicians, and
even elements within Naga political groups/underground factions, to exploit the
local population and circumvent legal provisions safeguarding indigenous land.
The union reiterated that Article 371A of the Indian
Constitution grants special provisions to Nagaland, explicitly protecting the
ownership and transfer of land and its resources to its indigenous people.
“This means that non-locals are legally prohibited from
purchasing land within Nagaland.
Any transaction that attempts to bypass or violate these
protections, including through proxy ownership or the fraudulent use of
indigenous certificates, is illegal, null and void, and will be challenged,” it
asserted.
The DNSU issued a stern warning that any government
officials found directly or indirectly involved in facilitating the issuance of
fraudulent certificates or enabling such illegal land transactions will face
strongest condemnation and consequences.
Meanwhile, the union lauded the district administration and
the government for their proactive efforts in implementing the Inner Line
Permit (ILP) in Dimapur.
The union called upon all concerned citizens to stand
united, raise their collective voices against the issuance and use of
fraudulent indigenous certificates, and expose the nexus enabling such
corruption.
“We implore every citizen to remain exceptionally vigilant,
report any suspicious cases promptly to the concerned authorities or directly
to the DNSU, and actively participate in safeguarding the inviolable rights and
cherished identity of the indigenous people of Nagaland,” the release added.
