The Angami Students’ Union (ASU) has submitted the findings of its latest Inner Line Permit (ILP) vigil drive to the Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, highlighting what it terms as a serious breach of existing regulatory norms.
The drive, conducted on August 5 across multiple areas of Kohima town, identified a total of 69 ILP defaulters, including 47 individuals without valid ILPs and 22 others with expired or improperly documented permits.
In a letter submitted to the DC, ASU stressed that the unchecked influx of undocumented individuals poses a significant threat to the demographic integrity, cultural identity, and security of the indigenous Naga population. The Union urged the district administration to take immediate legal action against the violators and to intensify ILP enforcement mechanisms at all key entry and transit points within Kohima district.
The Union also issued a public press statement on August 6, reaffirming its commitment to protecting the rights and identity of the indigenous Naga people. “This phase-wise ILP vigil exercise drive is part of ASU’s ongoing efforts,” the statement read, adding that defaulters apprehended during the drive were handed over to the Deputy Commissioner’s office for further action.
ASU stated that the exercise was prompted by numerous public complaints about increasing violations of immigration laws and criticized what it called the lethargic response of concerned authorities in the past. It recalled that a similar exercise conducted on September 11, 2024, had revealed eight individuals without valid ILPs, but the lack of stringent follow-up compelled the Union to resume its own checks.
ASU further appealed to the general public to remain vigilant and cooperative, urging landowners to verify the documentation of tenants and commercial occupants, particularly under ILP regulations. “Safeguarding our land is a shared and enduring responsibility,” the Union reminded.
Calling upon the district administration and law enforcement agencies to strengthen ILP implementation, ASU emphasized that the permit remains a vital safeguard for the indigenous population and must be upheld with diligence.
The Union informed that it plans to conduct similar drives across all Angami-inhabited areas in collaboration with district authorities as part of its ongoing mission to protect indigenous rights.
