The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has expressed concern and unequivocal condemnation regarding the escalating instances of fraudulent indigenous certificates being acquired and misused by certain non-Naga individuals to illicitly claim indigenous status within Nagaland.
In this regard, it has appealed to the public, government officials, leaders and organisations to “unequivocally reject and refrain from providing any form of shelter, support, or advocacy for individuals proven to have forged or misused indigenous certificates”.
“The DNSU asserts that such deceitful practices not only directly infringe upon the rights of the indigenous people of Nagaland but also pose a grave threat to the very social, cultural, and legal framework safeguarding the unique identity and ancestral land rights of the Naga community. After meticulous inquiry and rigorous verification, the DNSU has uncovered compelling evidence that numerous individuals have obtained indigenous certificates through deceptive means,” stated the DNSU in a press release issued on May 29 by its media cell.
These fraudulent documents, according to the Union, are being systematically exploited to unlawfully purchase or claim ownership of land and to avail themselves of other benefits explicitly reserved for bonafide indigenous citizens.
“The integrity of our indigenous identity and the sanctity of our land rights are non-negotiable. The DNSU have diligently compiled and are in the final stages of verifying the details of these fraudsters. The names of all individuals found guilty of these deplorable acts will be made public in due course. The DNSU is resolute in its commitment to transparency and justice, and we will not hesitate to pursue all available avenues, including robust legal recourse, to dismantle this nexus of corruption,” it asserted.
In this regard, it has strongly appealed to all civil society organizations, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders across Nagaland to reject and refrain from providing any form of shelter, support, or advocacy for individuals proven to have forged or misused indigenous certificates. Enabling such actions, the Union warned, directly contributes to the insidious dilution of indigenous rights and legal safeguards, while simultaneously fostering rampant corruption within the administrative systems.
The DNSU also made an earnest appeal to all respective tribal and community organizations to ensure that individuals holding public positions within their organizations are entirely free from political party affiliations.
“It is paramount that leaders representing community interests remain scrupulously impartial and dedicated solely to the welfare and upliftment of the community, rather than serving partisan political agendas. The DNSU emphasizes that political bias or loyalty invariably hinders genuine community development, compromises objective decision-making, and often leads to the politicization of critical issues that demand a communal or cultural perspective,” viewed the Union.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
The DNSU also expressed concern on the burgeoning “benami” system widely practiced in Nagaland, which it claimed as being actively exploited by non-locals in connivance with “unscrupulous Naga individuals, politicians, and even elements within Naga political groups/Underground factions, to exploit the local population and circumvent legal provisions safeguarding indigenous land”.
Recalling Article 371A, the Union reminded that non-locals are legally prohibited from purchasing land within Nagaland. “Any transaction that attempts to bypass or violate these protections, including through proxy ownership or the fraudulent use of indigenous certificates, is illegal, null and void, and will be challenged,” stated the DNSU.
It Issued a stern warning to any government officials as well as any Naga individual found to be directly or indirectly involved in facilitating the issuance of fraudulent certificates or enabling such illegal land transactions, protecting, aiding, or abetting these fraudsters and their illegal activities.
Further, the Union expressed sincere appreciation to the district administration and the government for their proactive efforts in implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Dimapur. It also commended the non-local civil society organizations for recognizing the importance of ILP in safeguarding the unique identity and land rights of the indigenous people of Nagaland, and urged for their continued cooperation.
“The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union calls upon all concerned citizens to stand united, raise their collective voices against the issuance and use of fraudulent indigenous certificates, and expose the nexus enabling such corruption. This critical issue affects every Naga and carries profound long-term consequences for the socio-political and economic stability of our indigenous population,” urged the Union.
