Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday said the Nagas are to blame themselves for influx of illegal immigrants into the state. He pointed out that some Nagas desperately searched and forcibly brought in people from outside the state to work for them.
On the day of publication of final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, Rio gave a clarion call to the Naga people to develop work culture. He reasoned that people from outside come because there is job in the state.
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“If you start working, the outsiders will not get job. If they do not get job, they will not come,” he stated. Rio was speaking at a programme organized to distribute tractors and implements to local rural bodies at Agri Expo site at 4th Mile here.
The Nagaland government has already decided to take all preventive measures against influx of illegal immigrants into the state from Tuesday, a day after publication of final draft NRC in Assam.
An official release said the Nagaland police have deployed additional forces in the areas bordering Assam to check and prevent influx of the illegal immigrants. The decision to take preventive measures was taken at a meeting of the home and police department under the chairmanship of chief secretary Temjen Toy on July 24.
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The chief secretary also informed the meeting that the state government is contemplating to carry out exercise on enrolment under NRC.
Additional Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) units have also been deployed in the border areas. It was also decided that flying squads would be sent to the areas. The state government asked the village councils to be vigilant and not to allow illegal immigrants to enter their jurisdictions or to employ them in any manner.
The deputy commissioners have instructed to take appropriate measures in this respect and to issue necessary advisories to house owners in the towns to verify the identity of the tenants from the authorities concerned and not to let out their premises to doubtful and suspected people.
On July25, the state government issued an advisory directing all the village/town/municipal authorities to take measures to strictly monitor influx of people from outside the state in violation of the existing rules/norms.
Any unusual influx of outsiders should be promptly brought to the knowledge of the district administration and police, the advisory, issued by the state home department, said adding the antecedents of any new incoming tenants should be properly checked and verified by the district administration and police.
It asked the districts administrations to strengthen all entry points/check gates manned by the police to thwart any influx of illegal immigrants and activate mobile patrolling in vulnerable locations.
The state government also called for strengthening the inner line permit regulations with effective monitoring and checking from time to time.
Leader of Opposition in Nagaland Assembly T.R. Zeliangall urged all political parties irrespective of party affiliations, NGOs, tribal hohos, student organisations, village councils and all individuals to unite against influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants into the state.
Urging the people of the state to be watchful, he urged the state government to effectively monitor the situation while initiating concrete measures to curb the threat.
Stating that the advisories issued by the state home department on the matter are commendable, Zeliang, however, said a one-time check cannot bring forth any tangible result.
The Naga Students Federation, the United Naga Tribes Association of Border Areas and the Central Nagaland Tribes Council asked the Nagaland government to take concrete steps to check possible influx of illegal migrants.
The NSF assured to engage itself in spot verification of migrants at entry and exit points in the state.