ILP crackdown catches Dimapur residents off guard

• DIMAPUR — The sudden enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime in Dimapur on Wednesday triggered confusion and concern among residents, with several individuals detained for not possessing valid permits.
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• The clampdown followed a notification issued by Dimapur Deputy Commissioner Dr. Tinojongshi Chang on May 27, which implemented the ILP system in Dimapur district with immediate effect. The move was in compliance with a September 20, 2024, directive from the state Home Department’s Political Branch.
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• However, many residents expressed dismay at the abruptness of the decision, stating that they were not given adequate time to comply. “The notification was issued on May 27, and we were expected to obtain the ILP by May 28—giving us less than 24 hours to comply,” said one resident, a teacher from Kevijau Colony, who was among those detained.
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• The teacher, who was on the way to Clock Tower for a tuition session, told Eastern Mirror that he was detained at Sub-Urban Police Station around 3.30 pm and held there until after 6.25 pm. More than 60 people of various ages were detained. Some had old ILPs and were released with instructions to renew the permit, while those who had valid documents or fell under the exempted category were released after verification.

Also read: No ILP, No Entry: Dimapur tightens movement with new permit system

• Those without valid permits were informed that the detentions were carried out under instructions from higher-ups. The teacher added that at around 5.30 pm, a bus arrived to transport the detainees to the DC office, but they were later told to remain at the police station. Officials, including a Dobashi, reportedly arrived later and held discussions with the police before the detainees were released and granted a one-week window to obtain ILPs.
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• The teacher later shared his experience on social media, criticising the lack of public awareness and short notice. “This kind of abrupt implementation, without enough time or proper public communication, is not only unjust but extremely distressing for innocent people,” he wrote.
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• Attempts to obtain official data on the number of ILP defaulters detained on the first day of enforcement from the police department were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
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• Meanwhile, residents also pointed out that the newly notified ILP fee structure does not list a category for homemakers or housewives, leaving many confused about which category they should apply under. The official notification outlines specific provisions for students, teachers, traders, labourers, priests, consultants, and business partners, etc., but makes no mention of applicants who are neither employed nor studying.
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• Under the revised ILP regime, residents who settled in Dimapur after November 22, 1979, are required to obtain valid ILPs, while those settled before that date are exempt upon verification of appropriate documents. The notification also mandates that ILP applications be submitted online, with varying requirements and fees depending on the applicant’s category.
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• The ILP, a colonial-era regulation, restricts entry and movement of non-indigenous persons in select northeastern states, including Nagaland. While Dimapur had long remained outside the ILP’s purview, recent decisions have brought it under the same legal framework as other districts.