Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dimapur, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang, has confirmed the state government’s renewed commitment to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the districts of Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland. This follows a directive issued by the Home Department on May 14, 2025.
Interacting with media persons after a coordination meeting held Tuesday at the DC’s conference hall, Dr. Tinojongshi described the discussions as “fruitful” and reaffirmed that the implementation of ILP in the three districts would move forward without further delay.
He explained that although a previous notification had been kept in abeyance due to challenges in execution, the current initiative would proceed with seriousness and full administrative backing.
The meeting saw the participation of representatives from various community and social organisations including Bengali Samaj, Jain Samaj, Agarwal Samaj, Muslim Council Dimapur, Nagaland Bihari Samaj, Nagaland Bhojpuri Samaj, Sikh Samaj, Dimapur Gorkha Union, Marwari Samaj, Kerala Samaj, Telugu Samaj, and Utkal (Oriya) Samaj.
The DC urged all communities to start preparing the necessary documentation, especially for individuals seeking exemption from ILP. He clarified that a formal notification with detailed guidelines on implementation would be issued soon.
Regarding the ILP application process, Dr. Tinojongshi stated that the entire procedure would be conducted online as per government directives. Individuals seeking to enter or reside in the districts would need to apply digitally.
He further elaborated that exemptions would fall under Category III, and individuals eligible for exemption would be required to produce either Smart Cards or Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs).
He also acknowledged that a significant number of non-Naga indigenous residents currently do not hold PRCs.
In this context, the DC said that the district administration would take up the issue with the state government to explore the possibility of issuing PRCs to these individuals, thereby facilitating their exemption.
Addressing the enforcement mechanism, Dr. Tinojongshi acknowledged the difficulties posed by Dimapur’s porous and ill-defined borders.
However, he assured that the government had already issued instructions for multi-departmental enforcement, which would be backed by support from community organisations.
To ensure smooth enforcement, he said an ILP enforcement cell would be established with the participation of multiple departments and civil society groups. This cell would be tasked with overseeing ILP compliance and coordination across the three districts.
When asked about categorisation of exemption cut-off dates, the DC clarified that two timeframes had been identified: Pre-1963 residents would be issued Smart Cards and residents from 1963 to November 1979 would receive PRCs.
He refrained from elaborating on the rationale behind these categories, maintaining that it was a matter of state policy.
The purpose of the meeting, he said, was not only to engage community stakeholders but also to dispel doubts and ensure that all were informed that ILP enforcement was set to move forward. The meeting lasted over an hour and was chaired by the DC himself.