Glorifying toothless ILP system in state
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: November 20, 2021 -

DETECTION of several non-locals without the inner line permit document during the Thursday's drive launched by volunteers of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has shown procedural lapses in the implementation of the government's own legislation that aims to monitor entry and residency of outsiders in the state.

With the assembly election only few months away, it Is unlikely that the continuous influx of non-Manipuris would be an election issue especially in those assembly constituencies where number of non-locals is significant and are considered priceless voters.

As the law enforcing personnel don't act without the consent of the higher-ups, it is but natural that the JCILPS volunteers took up the cudgel to ascertain whether or not introduction of the ILP system in the state is yielding the desired result.

When home minister Amit Shah formally announced in late 2019 in the Parliament that the ILP regulations would come into force in Manipur, the government of India legitimised the decades old demand mainly pursued by the valley organisations and people.

However, decision of the Union government to extend the ILP regime for monitoring entry and exit of non-natives had no joyous scenes among the masses as was expected with exception of the government authorities going overboard to heap praises on the central leaders apart from relishing the moment.

Lukewarm response from civil societies that spearheaded the ILP movement was primarily based on the apprehension that mere introduction of the restrictive legislation, wouldn't serve the purpose of shielding the indigenous communities without effective follow-up measures such as fixing the base year to define who should be natives of the land and strict enforcement of the guidelines at the entry points. That there was a reason for scepticism among the civil societies in-spite of the government consistently eulogising the central leaders has been substantiated when 50-plus non-locals were found without ILP passes during the surprise drive carried out at Khwairamband Keithel.

Presence of such a significant number of non-natives in a single location makes it crystal clear that infiltration has been rampant even after the ILP system came into force.

Many of the non-locals found without ILPS passes or with expired permits also underscore that importance of enforcing the system is being grossly overlooked by the authorities concerned.

Questionable conduct of officials and personnel stationed at the entry/exit points was exposed in early 2019 as well when over 150 Nepalese people, including women and young girls, were pulled up from different parts of the state, including Moreh border town within a span of 48-hours.

Failure to detect movement of such a large group of foreign nationals not only testified that Manipur remains the hotbed of illegal infiltration but a|so exposed that those entrusted to prevent drastic demographic changes are not trustworthy.

The disturbing aspect of the 2019 case was that these illegal immigrants managed to reach the border town without the notice of state and central security personnel who are being deployed at numerous entry and exit points along the national and state highways.

Therefore, it could be safely stated unless personnel manning the ILP Check Posts in the border areas discharge their duties with sincerity and diligence introduction of the ILP system wouldn't serve any purpose other than for self-glorification by the regime.