Kohima, December 22 (MExN): The Ex-Parliamentarians Association of Nagaland (Ex-PAN) has submitted a representation to the Government of Nagaland, urging immediate steps to operationalise the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) and strengthen the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime across the State.
In the representation, Ex-PAN stated that while it appreciated the government’s decision to extend the ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 to the entire State, including Dimapur, effective implementation would remain uncertain unless the State and local administration were adequately prepared to address emerging challenges.
Referring to recent developments in the North-East, the association said States had become increasingly alert to the risks allegedly posed by large numbers of illegal immigrants, particularly from neighbouring Bangladesh.
With Assam undertaking extensive eviction drives, he Ex-PAN cautioned that Nagaland could face an imminent influx, especially given its porous borders.
It maintained that strict enforcement of the ILP was the only effective safeguard to protect the land and people of Nagaland, while ensuring that the constitutional rights of bona fide Indian citizens living and working in the State were not infringed upon.
To ensure effective ILP enforcement, Ex-PAN emphasised the urgent need for a robust mechanism to distinguish genuine citizens from illegal aliens, identifying RIIN as a critical foundation for such a system.
On RIIN, the association recalled that the State Government had earlier assured its implementation in October 2024, but expressed concern that more than a year later, there was no clarity on its rollout.
It noted that the final report of the Banuo Z Jamir Commission on RIIN had been submitted on July 27, 2020, yet the register was still not officially implemented.
Ex-PAN observed that existing mechanisms such as indigenous and Scheduled Tribe certificates were flawed and prone to misuse, arguing that a comprehensive documentation of all indigenous inhabitants was essential for effective governance and enforcement of laws, including the ILP.
The association further suggested that the physical registration exercise under RIIN should preferably begin with indigenous Nagas of Nagaland or be carried out simultaneously for all citizens, cautioning against initiating the process exclusively with non-Naga tribal communities or non-Naga indigenous inhabitants, which it said could be misconstrued.
Urging the State Government to act “with right earnest,” Ex-PAN stated that keeping RIIN in “cold storage” for an extended period would only have negative consequences for the State and its people.
