In response to the recent public opinion generated after the crimes and illegal activities committed by migrant population, Chekiye Village Council (CVC) Sunday began issuing identity (ID) cards to all non-locals including Muslims as per the resolution adopted by the village council on March 12.
It may be mentioned that Public Action Committee (PAC) of Naga Council, Dimapur (NCD) on “illegal immigrants” started issuing ID card forms to “genuine Indian Muslims” from February 29.
PAC had said that that the “exercise” was aimed at protecting the genuine Indian Muslim citizens from “unnecessary harassments” following “anti-social activities like rape, contract murder, thefts, kidnapping, etc., committed by “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants”.
Chekiye Village Council (CVC) was now taking initiative to regulate flow of illegal migrants in the village and to keep record of the number of non-locals in the village.
CVC said that presently over 500 non-Nagas were residing at Chekiye village and the council was taking measures to ensure that migrants who are settled within the village jurisdiction are legal citizens of India.
Interacting with the media at his residence, chairman CVC, Toiho Yeptho said that the village council started to issue the ID cards to all non-Nagas with reference to the resolution adopted by NCD but added that the non-locals within the village jurisdiction would only be using the ID cards issued by the council but not that of NCD.
“With due respect to Naga Council, I think it is not possible for them to cover the vast areas of Dimapur… this is one way of lightening their burden”, said Yeptho.
However, Yeptho added that CVC would provide all data and legal documents of the non-locals/migrants to any government agencies or social organizations if and when required.
Asserting that the main objective of issuing the ID cards was to know the people with whom the villagers were “living and dealing” with in their daily life and to control “anti-social activities”, Yeptho said CVC wanted to make sure that no “illegal migrants” were residing within the village jurisdiction.
He then said that after issuing the ID cards the village council would go on an inspection drive in which all non-Nagas without identity cards would be “driven away from the village”.
The council has also made it mandatory for the non-Nagas to produce permanent resident certificate from their native villages issued by competent authorities, temporary resident certificate from present land/house owner where the individual was presently residing and two passport photos along with Rs 300.CVC said the records of the non-Nagas would be duly maintained by its members.