Sinlung /
12 February 2015

Drive To Flush Out Migrants in Nagaland

Kohima, Feb. 12 : The campaign to flush out "illegal Bangladeshi immigrants" from Nagaland has intensified after the Naga Students' Federation (NSF), the apex students' organisation in the state, decided to spearhead the movement.

After the NSF's decision, more principal Naga organisations joined the campaign to drive out "illegal Bangladeshi immigrants".

The drive against illegal immigrants was first initiated in Mokokchung district by students and an NGO known as Survival Mokokchung.

The Nagaland government has blamed Assam for the influx. The NSF said it would organise tours in all Naga-inhabited areas to create awareness on "illegal Bangladeshi immigrants".

During the tour, Naga student leaders will meet representatives of all apex organisations, administrations and members of municipal councils, town councils, youth organisations, women's organisations, students, wards and colony leaders.

The president of the NSF, Tongpang Ozukum, said they were not against any community or citizens of India, but their movement is against illegal immigrants. He said immigration from Bangladesh has become a serious threat to Naga society.

Nagaland has a large population of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Nepal and the authorities have failed to check them.

Most of the alleged Bangladeshi immigrants are engaged in agriculture sector in the plain areas and many are construction labourers.

They are also into businesses dealing with garments and electronic items. In Dimapur, the commercial hub of the state, most of the businesses is controlled by alleged immigrants who are mostly concentrated in New Market, Hazi Park, Railway Bazaar and Super Market areas.

Dimapur is not covered under inner-line permit (ILP) system and in its absence immigrants find it easy to enter the state. The NSF and other Naga organisations have been demanding streamlining of the ILP system.

The government has said most of the alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants possess Indian domicile certificates which make it difficult to detect the immigrants.

The minority community in the state too has expressed concern over entry of immigrants and decided to support the movement against them.

0 comments:

Post a Comment