In light of the state home department’s notification extending the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to cover the districts of Chümoukedima and Niuland and Dimapur, the representatives of various minority communities held a closed-door meeting in the conference hall of deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur here Friday.
The meeting saw the participation of representatives from 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 (ORIA) Samaj.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Shree Marwari Samaj general secretary, Basu Damani, acknowledged the implementation of ILP was a state matter. He, however, raised concerns regarding its applicability to long-term residents, who were already included in the voter list and were permanent residents of Nagaland.
He said that individuals who had been residing in the state for decades and possessed valid documents such as voter ID cards, Aadhaar cards issued in Nagaland, and trade licences should be exempted from ILP requirement.
Citing examples, Damani pointed out that many residents have lived in Nagaland since 1979, spanning over 45 years, making it “unreasonable” to subject them to ILP registration.
He suggested that those holding voter ID cards and permanent resident certificates (PRCs) should be officially exempted from ILP provisions. Further, Damani disclosed that during meetings with DC Chümoukedima and later with the chief minister, the community representatives proposed the formation of a committee comprising three senior members from each community.
He said the proposed committee would certify individuals who have been residing in Nagaland for extended periods, ensuring their recognition as state residents and exempting them from ILP registration.
Marwari Samaj also submitted a request letter to DC highlighting that non-Naga community had been residing in Nagaland since the 19th century and had equally endured hardships during political conflicts.
They urged the government to acknowledge their contribution to the state and that ensure their rights were respected while finalizing ILP regulations. The memorandum requested that Indian citizens residing in Nagaland, with verifiable proof of their long-term stay, be recognized as citizens of the state.
It also stressed that spouses of Dimapur residents, who hailed from different parts of India, should be granted equal rights. Expressing concerns over potential challenges in ILP implementation, the community representatives noted that Dimapur’s porous borders made infiltration a recurring issue, which they said could lead to “unnecessary hardships” for genuine citizens during ILP checks.
They proposed an arrangement similar to European Ward system in Shillong, wherein non-Naga permanent residents should have the right to purchase land in Dimapur’s municipal areas and enjoy equal rights as legal citizens of the state. The meeting concluded with a collective appeal to the government to consider the concerns raised while drafting the final ILP framework.