Dimapur, July 25 (EMN): The government of Nagaland is considering a National Register of Citizens (NRC) enrolment for the state, an issue associated with concerns about the possibility of illegal immigrants swamping the state now that Assam is stated to be preparing its NRC’s final draft.
The government has taken a decision to take a number of preventive measures, the government bulletin DIPR informed on Wednesday. The measures will be a bulwark against a possible influx of illegal immigrants from Assam due to the NRC being prepared there ‘from July 31,’ the DIPR informed.
The updates stated that the Home and Police departments of Nagaland met recently. The date of the meeting was not mentioned. The meeting was stated to have been presided over by Chief Secretary Temjen Toy. He was quoted as having stated that the government of Nagaland was ‘contemplating to carry out exercise on enrolment under NRC.’
According to the report, the Nagaland Police is deploying additional forces to the border areas to check and ‘prevent influx’ of illegal immigrants. Additional Indian Reserve battalions and flying squads are also being deployed, it was informed.
Further, the government is writing to village councils to be vigilant and not to allow immigrants to enter their jurisdictions or to employ them in any manner, the report stated.
Instructions to deputy commissioners have been given too. They have been directed to take appropriate measures in said regard and to issue necessary advisories to house owners in the towns to verify from the authorities the identity of their tenants. Citizens are cautioned not to let their premises to “doubtful” and suspicious people.
The DIPR also informed that the government had received instructions from the central government to take action against mob lynching. All the districts are to have special task forces with the respective superintendent of police establishments, the DIPR added.
NSF sounds the clarion to govt., citizens for action
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has warned that Nagaland will be swamped by illegal immigrants if the state’s government and its people do not act at this time. The NSF issued a statement on Wednesday pointing to the possibility of mass migration into the state considering that Assam is preparing the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Nagaland is already faced with ‘immeasurable’ problems and influx of illegal immigrants for which action is required now, the federation stated.
The statement read: “With the State of Nagaland currently facing immeasurable problems and influx of illegal immigrants and with the publication of the final draft of National Register of Citizens by the state of Assam, it is being viewed that massive alarming migration of illegal immigrants is bound to happen, if the state government does not take necessary measures to monitor the flow of illegal immigrants.”
Here, the NSF appealed to the public of the state and the Nagaland government to take measures as Assam is preparing the NRC’s final draft for publication on July 30.
“The state of Assam undertaking the exercise of National Register of Citizens to get rid of immigrants who had settled illegally in Assam after the electoral roll of 1971 and in accordance to the Assam Accord, 1985, posed as the biggest demographic threat to the neighbouring states of Assam and in particular to the state of Nagaland,” the NSF stated.
The NSF has demanded that the government place ‘strict mechanism’ to monitor the entry and exit of migrants. The organisation assured that it will engage spot verifications of entry and exit points in the state.
The students also cautioned citizens, indigenous and non-indigenous alike, not to offer opportunities for illegal immigrations to secure a passage.
“The NSF further informs the general public, indigenous and non-indigenous not to entertain or make effort to create passage for these illegal immigrants and would initiate strict and befitting action against the defaulters,” the organisation stated.
All the federating units and subordinate organisations of the NSF are asked to be vigilant and to monitor their respective jurisdiction.
