Centre to identify illegal migrants in Nagaland

NEW DELHI: After rolling out the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, the Centre is examining the issue of illegal immigrants in Nagaland with the Union home ministry holding a discussion with the state government, governor of Nagaland RN Ravi and Registrar General of India (RGI) Vivek Joshi, ET has learnt.

The BJP-NDPP alliance, led by Neiphiu Rio, had last month proposed a Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), similar to the NRC in Assam.

Officials said during the discussions, MHA sought details on the implementation of the inner line permit and how RIIN can help weed out illegal migrants. The ministry also directed the state to set up foreigner’s tribunals, model detention centres and an IT-enabled redressal system before embarking on the process.


The discussion at North Block was attended by IB chief Arvind Kumar and special secretary (internal security) AP Maheshwari, among others.

Last month, the Nagaland government had set up a commission, headed by retired chief secretary Banuo Z Jamir as chairman, to frame the modalities of creating the RIIN. The notification said the commission would recommend the eligibility criteria to be an indigenous inhabitant, the documents to be acceptable as proof, how the exercise is to be carried out and other issues relating to implementation of RIIN. The panel is expected to submit its report within three months.

RIIN, according to home ministry officials, will act as a register of all indigenous inhabitants of the state and will prevent issuance of indigenous inhabitant certificates to ineligible persons. It will be a one-time exercise but there will be continuity in the entry as the family members of those entered through this exercise will be added as and when needed. Home ministry official said RIIN aims to protect the rights and properties, including the land of non-Naga inhabitants of Nagaland before its statehood in December 1, 1963.