Naga students’ body endorses tribe’s phased bar on “illegal immigrants”

GUWAHATI

The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has backed the resolution adopted by the apex body of the Angami community to bar, in phases, “illegal immigrants” from working or renting property in areas under its jurisdiction.

The NSF has urged other Naga organisations to emulate the Angami Public Organisation (APO) in enforcing the Inner-Line Permit (ILP) and barring people of suspect nationality from working, offering services and renting houses.

Rooted in the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, the ILP is a temporary travel document Indian citizens need to enter four frontier States (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland) in the north-eastern region.

An ILP-specific wing of the NSF said the APO’s phased approach would give indigenous and non-indigenous communities time to address illegal immigration and ensure that employment, services, documents and tenancy arrangements comply with the law.

“We are not opposed to non-indigenous people who enter, work, trade and reside in Nagaland legally. Our primary concern is illegal immigration and non-compliance with existing laws,” an NSF spokesperson said.

Announcing its phased bar on “illegal immigrants” on October 7, the APO said the decision was based on concerns over demographic changes and lax enforcement of existing regulations. It also asked Naga youth not to work for “illegal immigrants” as salespersons in shops or in any other capacity.

According to the APO resolution, Naga youth will not be permitted to work for “illegal immigrants” in any capacity from December 31, 2026. It also said that the Angami Youth Organisation has been tasked with enforcing this resolution after the deadline.

From March 31, 2027, the APO will prohibit the use of services of illegal immigrants as drivers, domestic workers or labourers. It has also directed that illegal immigrants must not use or operate any trade licence, PAN card, Aadhaar card, SIM card, permit or bank account issued in the name of an Angami individual.

The APO further said that Angami individuals will not be allowed to rent houses or lease land to “illegal immigrants” from July 31, 2027. It entrusted the Angami youth body with enforcing this restriction across the Angami areas in consultation with village councils.

The APO claimed the decadal growth rate of “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” was 181.67%, while that of the indigenous communities was 20.44%.