Dimapur Naga Students' Union flags misuse of indigenous certificates

• 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.
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• 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.
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• “After meticulous inquiry and rigorous verification, the DNSU has uncovered compelling evidence that numerous individuals have obtained indigenous certificates through deceptive means.
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• “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.
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• 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.

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• “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.
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• 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.
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• 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.
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• 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.
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• “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.
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• “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.
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• 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.
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• 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.
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• “This means that non-locals are legally prohibited from purchasing land within Nagaland.
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• 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.
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• 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.
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• Meanwhile, the union lauded the district administration and the government for their proactive efforts in implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Dimapur.
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• 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.
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• “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.