WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025
Permit Needed, Panic Not
After much pressure from CSOs to extend the ILP system to Dimapur in order to address the alleged unregulated influx of undocumented immigrants in the district.
Published on May 28, 2025
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- After much pressure from civil society organisations (CSOs) to extend the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to Dimapur in order to address the alleged unregulated influx of undocumented immigrants in the district, the government of Nagaland has finally responded to this popular demand. In an order dated May 27, the deputy commissioner of Dimapur announced the immediate implementation of the system in the district, outlining the procedures, categories, validity, fee structures, and documentation requirements for obtaining the permit. This announcement followed a week after the DC stated that the proposed online implementation of the ILP system in Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland districts was set to proceed after a meeting with community leaders. With this move, the entire state of Nagaland is now under the ILP system. To enter the districts, foreigners and residents from other states must now present the document, which can only be obtained online through the government’s dedicated portal for ILP applications. For residents of Assam’s border districts—Karimganj, Hailakandi, Dima Hasao, and Karbi Anglong—the order specifies that a copy of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) entry along with standard ILP documents is required.
- While this move may raise concerns and confusion, the ILP is not a new concept. It has been implemented in the state (with the exception of the undivided Dimapur) since 1873, under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation. Similar regulations are in place in several north-eastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Mizoram. Therefore, the extension of this regulation to Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland districts should not be a cause for alarm. What is needed is the judicious execution of the system without causing inconvenience or panic. The application process should be hassle-free and accessible 24/7. The police and district administration, tasked with verifying the documents, should carry out their duties diligently while avoiding harassment in the name of enforcement. To prevent undesirable incidents, the involvement of third parties, unscrupulous individuals, and unauthorised bodies should be monitored. There could be many undocumented immigrants who have been living and working in the state for decades, as well as others who have failed to apply for the ILP due to sheer ignorance. For these individuals, it is essential to create awareness through community involvement and other outreach programmes. They should be informed about the purpose of the regulation: that it is primarily to protect and safeguard the identity, culture, and traditions of the indigenous people of Nagaland. The fact is that anyone, including foreigners, can travel, work, and establish businesses in the state, provided they possess an ILP document, which is easily obtainable online. This information should be communicated to the general public.
Nagaland Districts
