DIMAPUR, MARCH 4 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) today while supporting the extension of the ILP to cover Dimapur, however stressed that it should not be used as an instrument to “harass” genuine non Naga residents of Dimapur. It rather called for “thorough preparatory groundwork” before actual implementation.
A press release from the NPF press bureau expressed concern at what it termed was “random and haphazard process of ILP checking in Dimapur.” The NPF claimed that as per reports, “ILP checking was carried out in many places in Dimapur by the police and district administration whereby, a good number of innocent citizens were hauled to the District Commissioner’s office and a fine imposed on them.”
“We must acknowledge the contribution of several pioneering prominent citizens from Dimapur who were non-Nagas but were inhabitants even before statehood,” it pointed out. The party expressed apprehension that the process of differentiating genuine non-Naga inhabitants of Dimapur from those who have only recently arrived has not been streamlined.
“A proper mechanism has to be put in place that will both ensure the security of genuine citizens while weeding out those who fall under the ambit of ILP,” it said.
Stressing on the need for peaceful co-existence with all sections of people in the state as well as the neighboring communities, the NPF advised against any “knee-jerk or reactionary actions.”
