Reported by Avik Chakraborty
Dibrugarh: Arunachal Pradesh authorities have intensified action against violations of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system following recent protests by the ST Bachao Andolan Committee, with police detecting over 100 violators in Lower Dibang Valley district.
State Home Minister Mama Natung said on Friday that 118 ILP violators had been detected in Lower Dibang Valley as part of an ongoing enforcement drive led by Arunachal Pradesh Police.
“The detection of 118 ILP violators in Lower Dibang Valley reflects the seriousness with which Arunachal Police is enforcing its legal safeguards and protecting the rights of our indigenous people,” Natung said in a post on X.
He said the ILP system was a “lawful mechanism” intended to safeguard the identity of the state and asserted that all outsiders entering Arunachal Pradesh must comply strictly with ILP regulations.
“Violations will invite strict action under the law,” the minister added.
Natung also urged employers, contractors and agencies to ensure proper verification and documentation of non-local workers before engaging them for work in the state.
According to local residents, ILP violations have frequently occurred after contractors brought labourers from outside the state without valid permits or documentation for construction work. Some residents also alleged that fake documents had been used in certain cases to facilitate entry into Arunachal Pradesh.
The intensified enforcement comes days after the Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, approved measures to further strengthen the ILP system.
The decision followed a 36-hour shutdown called by the Scheduled Tribe Bachao Andolan Committee, which disrupted normal life in parts of the state on Thursday.
The Inner Line Permit, issued under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, is a mandatory travel document required for Indian citizens who are not permanent residents of Arunachal Pradesh to enter the state.
The ILP system is aimed at protecting indigenous communities, preserving cultural identity and regulating the entry of outsiders into the state.