By TC News Desk
Agartala, 24th July 2025: Tipra Motha Party MLA Ranjit Debbarma has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Tripura, citing long-standing demands and rising concerns over national security.
In a letter addressed to the Home Minister on Thursday, Debbarma referred to the 1993 Memorandum of Settlement signed between the All Tripura Tribal Force (ATTF) and the Tripura government, which included a commitment to push for ILP implementation in the state. The agreement, he said, clearly stated that the state government would press the Centre for approval of the ILP system.
Debbarma expressed disappointment over the fact that, more than three decades later, the proposed ILP system is yet to see the light of day in Tripura. “It is unfortunate that successive governments have failed to act on a formal commitment made in 1993,” he wrote.
Highlighting Tripura’s strategic vulnerability due to its 856-kilometre-long international border with Bangladesh, the MLA claimed that unchecked illegal infiltration continues to pose a serious threat to internal security. “The absence of ILP has made Tripura a soft target for illegal immigration. The consequences are far-reaching — both demographically and in terms of national security,” he cautioned.
Debbarma pointed out that neighbouring northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and most recently Manipur in 2019 — have already adopted the ILP mechanism to regulate the entry of non-residents. “Despite facing similar challenges, Tripura remains the only exception,” he said.
Calling for urgent intervention from the Centre, Debbarma appealed to Shah to initiate steps for the introduction of ILP in Tripura without further delay. “This is not just about protecting indigenous rights; it is about preserving the sovereignty and security of the entire nation,” the letter concluded.
