Kohima, Feb. 13: The campaign to flush out “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” from Nagaland has intensified after the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), the apex students’ organisation in the state, decided to spearhead the movement. After the NSF’s decision, more principal Naga organisations joined the campaign to drive out “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants”.
The drive against illegal immigrants was first initiated in Mokokchung district by students and an NGO known as Survival Mokokchung. The Nagaland government has blamed Assam for the influx. The NSF said it would organise tours in all Naga-inhabited areas to create awareness on “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants”.
During the tour, Naga student leaders will meet representatives of all apex organisations, administrations and members of municipal councils, town councils, youth organisations, women’s organisations, students, wards and colony leaders. The president of the NSF, Tongpang Ozukum, said they were not against any community or citizens of India, but their movement is against illegal immigrants. He said immigration from Bangladesh has become a serious threat to Naga society.
Nagaland has a large population of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Nepal and the authorities have failed to check them. Most of the alleged Bangladeshi immigrants are engaged in agriculture sector in the plain areas and many are construction labourers.