Guwahati: The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has called on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his role as North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Chairman, to spearhead efforts for extending the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to all Northeastern states, including Assam and Meghalaya. The move comes in response to growing security, demographic, and sovereignty concerns.
In a memorandum submitted to Sarma, HITO expressed alarm over comments made by Bangladesh’s interim head Muhammad Yunus during his recent visit to China, in which he reportedly described Bangladesh as the “only guardian of the ocean” for India’s landlocked Northeast and referenced the strategic Siliguri Corridor, often called the “Chicken Neck.”
HITO described Yunus’s remarks as misleading, objectionable, and contrary to India’s national interest, particularly concerning the Northeast. The organization noted that the statements, coupled with political instability in Bangladesh and repeated detections of illegal Bangladeshi nationals across Northeastern states, exacerbate security and demographic vulnerabilities.
The group endorsed Sarma’s strong response to the remarks, stating it resonated with public sentiment in the region. HITO also highlighted Bangladesh’s own narrow and vulnerable corridors, arguing that the commentary was strategically ill-advised.
The memorandum recommended extending the ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, across the entire Northeast. Currently, the ILP applies only in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, and Sikkim (as a Protected Area Permit). HITO argued that expanding the ILP to Assam and Meghalaya would protect indigenous land, identity, and cultural heritage, while serving as a regulatory tool to monitor illegal migration.
Acknowledging that the ILP is not a complete solution to infiltration, HITO emphasized its role in safeguarding demographic balance and national security. The organization urged the Assam government and the BJP-led central government to prioritize the matter in the broader interest of constitutional rights of indigenous communities.
HITO also requested a meeting with the Chief Minister to elaborate on its recommendations and strategic concerns.