Staff Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Aug 7: Raising serious alarm over what it termed as a “creeping demographic threat,” the Save Arunachal Save Indigenous (SASI) organization has demanded immediate intervention from the state government to prevent the unchecked influx of suspected illegal immigrants into Arunachal Pradesh.
Addressing a press conference in the capital, SASI Chairman Adv. Romjir Rakshap warned that Arunachal Pradesh is at a dangerous crossroads, with outsiders—particularly evicted individuals from Assam—allegedly entering the state using forged Inner Line Permits (ILPs) or bypassing official entry points altogether.
Rakshap expressed deep concern over the growing number of individuals, especially from the Mia Muslim community, who are reportedly fleeing eviction drives in Assam and settling in parts of Arunachal in search of shelter, food, and work. “They are entering our villages, blending into our communities as domestic help, daily wage workers, and market vendors. Once they enter, they never leave. Our tribal land is turning into a dumping ground for illegal immigrants,” he said.
He criticized the loopholes in the existing ILP enforcement mechanism, claiming that many permits are being issued without proper verification. According to him, the reliance on a single document like Aadhaar or PAN for ILP issuance makes the system vulnerable to fraud and manipulation. He also called out the absence of physical and telephonic verification of sponsors, which, he alleged, has allowed many outsiders to settle permanently.
Highlighting the situation in neighbouring Assam, Rakshap praised the “Zero Tolerance” policy of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and referenced the ongoing "Mia Bagaoo Andolan" as an example of how indigenous populations are taking charge to reclaim their land and identity. “Assam has acted. Tripura lost its indigenous voice. Arunachal must choose its path before it’s too late,” he cautioned.
SASI demanded the reimposition of the ban on weekly markets, arguing that such venues are being exploited as easy entry points by non-locals. The organization also urged the state government to launch 24x7 ILP checks at all entry gates, conduct surprise verification drives in all districts, and issue a public advisory along with a toll-free number for citizens to report ILP violators and illegal immigrants.
“What we are witnessing is not just migration—it is infiltration. And this is not just a policy issue—it is a survival issue. If this continues, the ILP under the BEFR 1873 will be meaningless. We, the sons of this soil, will be outnumbered in our own land,” Rakshap stated, calling the situation “urgent and existential.”

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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