Kohima, March 8 (IANS): It is not the government in Nagaland but student groups and separatist outfits whose rule reigns supreme on allowing non-tribal people to reside freely in the state.
It may sound bizarre, but it’s true. If you are a non-Naga and staying in Nagaland either for business or for a job, it is now mandatory to obtain an ‘identity card ‘ - and the issuing authority is either a rebel group or some student organisation.
The latest to enforce the identity card scheme for all non-tribal people staying in Nagaland is the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM). “Anybody who is a non-Naga must have an identity card issued by us by paying a fee. This has been done to check illegal immigrants from settling in the state,” a senior NSCN-IM leader said. Media reports say many counters have been set up by the NSCN-IM for issuing identity cards.
A similar campaign has been launched by the Angami Students’ Union in parts of Kohima district where non-locals were forced to take an identity card issued by the group. “This is unfair. The students or the NSCN-IM has no right to issue identity cards as we already have inner-line permits issued by the government allowing us to stay here as per the law of the land,” said Binoy Das, a trader from Assam who had set up a grocery shop in Dimapur, Nagaland’s commercial hub. “I decided to leave Dimapur and returned to my home state Assam, unable to bear the constant humiliation.” Despite media reports of the identity card controversy, the state government feigns ignorance. “We are not aware of such things and shall look into the matter,” Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was quoted as saying in newspapers. Several rebel groups in Nagaland are accused of collecting ‘tax’ from both the Nagas and non-tribal people in the state under the very nose of the authorities.
“The NSCN-IM or other groups should understand there are thousands of Naga students and people staying across the country. What happens if some vested interests get provoked by such partisan attitude and try to harass the Nagas outside,” asked Nabin Bora, the employee of a private company based in Nagaland.
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