Submits representation to Nagaland Govt
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 1
The transporters from Assam, bordering Nagaland’s Mokokchung district, protesting the demand for producing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) met officials of the Mokokchung district administration on August 1. As per official sources, the drivers’ union of Mariani, Jorhat district, submitted a representation to the Nagaland state government through the Border Magistrate, Tsurangkong.
According to the sources, the drivers’ union conveyed to the state government what they said was unnecessary harassment faced by goods transporters/drivers at the inter-state checkposts while crossing into Nagaland. They said that the drivers were asked to produce ILP by the police personnel at the Tsutepela checkpost. On the other hand, there is no option for ‘drivers/transporters’ on the state’s online ILP portal.
Checking of ILP at the inter-state checkposts was heightened in the aftermath of the recent eviction drives from reserved forests in Assam. Prior to this period, the sources said that ILP was not demanded from transporters/drivers entering the state for dropping off goods. Generally, they said that even in states like Manipur and Arunachal, covered by the ILP regime, inter-state truckers are not asked to produce ILP. Their all-India driving licence is reportedly enough.
A Mokokchung district official said, “It’s now up to the state government. There is no option for inter-state drivers (on the ILP portal).”
The protest began on July 30 allegedly after truckers from Jorhat and Sivasagar, bordering Mokokchung district, faced harassment from Nagaland Police personnel stationed at the Watiyongpang and Tsutapela inter-state checkposts on the pretext of the ILP. Barring perishable goods, the protest involved preventing Mokokchung-bound commercial goods carriers from crossing over into Mokokchung from Mariani. The protest entered the third day on August 1.
The meeting, today, between the drivers’ union and the Border Magistrate was described as amicable. The sources said that the Border Magistrate assured the union of forwarding their representation to the state government. The union was also requested to consider calling off their protest to which they responded that they will go back and discuss with their colleagues.
“Hopefully, they’ll call it off tomorrow,” one of the sources said.
