The Joint Committee on Prevention of Illegal Immigrants (JCPI) said it, along with apex Naga tribal hohos, had resolved to support implementation of the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) announced by the state government.

The committee’s convener K. Ghokheto Chopy and secretary Tia Longchar, in a release on Thursday, said a meeting held with the apex Naga tribal hohos resolved that it would take responsibility to sincerely work for an acceptable and authentic register.

The meeting urged the Nagaland government to invoke provisions of the Nagaland Village and Tribal Councils Act, 1978 (Fourth Amendment) Act, 2009, to involve the village councils and the apex tribal councils to authenticate a list of indigenous inhabitants with vetting powers in their respective jurisdictions.

According to the committee, the implementation of the register is indispensable for effective enforcement of the new system of inner-line permit.

The committee, however, said the proposed register must be generated on the basis of notification (No. AR-8/8/76) dated Kohima, April 28, 1977 with December 1, 1963 as a clear cut-off date.

The meeting decided to approach the state government to provide certified true copy of the first electoral roll published on December 5, 1963, from the original record of the election department.

The committee also resolved to urge the state government to notify extension of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 to cover the entire administrative jurisdiction of the state, including Dimapur, immediately.

On Wednesday, the state government had convened a consultative meeting with legislators, tribal hohos, civil society organisations, NGOs, senior citizens and government officials on creation of the register.

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio called on governor P.B. Acharya on Thursday to apprise him of Wednesday’s consultative meeting and other matters relating to the state, a Raj Bhavan release said.

Rio was accompanied by his adviser Abu Metha.