The Ao Students Union Dimapur (ASUD) has declared its support for the urgent demand by Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) for the immediate and full implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Dimapur.

“ASUD stands in complete solidarity with DNSU in their pursuit of this critical measure aimed at safeguarding the identity, culture, and future of the indigenous Naga people in Dimapur,” a statement from the union said.

The ILP, under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873, is an official travel document issued by the government that grants Indian citizens permission to enter protected areas for a limited duration. Currently, the ILP is mandatory for entry into Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur for Indian citizens who are not permanent residents of these states.

Notably, Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland, remains the only district in the state that is exempt from the ILP regime.

“This exemption has led to increasing concerns among indigenous communities. The DNSU has voiced serious apprehension that the continued delay in implementing the ILP in Dimapur could result in a ‘non-violent genocide’ of the ethnic identity and culture of the indigenous Naga people. This stark warning highlights the profound sense of vulnerability felt by the community in the face of perceived demographic shifts,” ASUD maintained.

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Stating that it firmly believes that the implementation of the ILP in Dimapur is not simply an administrative matter but a fundamental imperative to protect the distinct cultural heritage, land rights, and demographic integrity of the indigenous Naga people residing in the district, ASUD asserted its support for DNSU’s efforts on crucial Naga issues in Dimapur, including the recent initiative to collect data on non-local residents to ensure the proper enforcement of ILP regulations.

The union also backed DNSU’s condemnation of any opposition to the implementation of the ILP in Dimapur, viewing such resistance as potentially detrimental to the vital interests of the indigenous Naga community.

ASUD further appealed to the state government to heed the repeated and emphatic demands of the Naga student community and to take immediate and decisive action towards the full and effective implementation of the ILP in Dimapur. This necessitates the government undertaking several key measures without further delay.

“The time for deliberation is over; the government must act now,” ASUD stated while reiterating its solidarity with DNSU, assuring its cooperation and support in the ongoing efforts to achieve the full implementation of the ILP in Dimapur.