Inner Line Permit

In Manipur protests are on to demand the implementation of the Inner Line Permit in the region.

In Manipur protests are on to demand the implementation of the Inner Line Permit in the region.

ILP is an official travel document issued by the Government of India to grant inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period. Visitors are not allowed to purchase property in these regions.
Validity of permit is generally 15-20 days.
Prior to Manipur's merger with India, Manipur had become a state and nearly had the ILP system. However, it was only in 1951 when the then chief commissioner Himmat Singh lifted the rule and allowed unregulated entry of outsiders into the region.
According to the 2011 census, the population of Manipur is a little over 27 lakh. Of this, only 17 lakh (1.7 million) are indigenous people and 10 lakh (one million) are outsiders.
The ongoing agitation took an ugly turn when villagers torched the houses of MP and MLAs.

Background

Currently, the Inner Line Permit is operational in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. In addition to these, Meghalaya, Manipur, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Leh also require Indian citizens to have a permit before they enter.
It has been issued under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 and the conditions and restrictions vary from state to state.
It can be issued for travel purposes solely.
Visitors are not allowed to purchase property in these regions. However, there might be a different set of rules for long term visitors, though they are not valid for central government employees and security forces.

Purpose