Kohima, May 2: The Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has announced that it will conduct surprise inspections and spot checks across commercial sectors in Naga areas to curb the growing practice of “benami” trade.
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In a statement issued on Saturday, the commission warned against practices such as local fronting, proxy ownership, and nominee arrangements, where non-local individuals operate businesses under the names of Naga citizens to bypass regulatory safeguards. The ILRC said such activities directly violate legal and customary protections that safeguard Naga land, trade, and economic rights.
The commission noted that the NSF has been opposing benami business practices since the 1990s, but despite repeated warnings and awareness campaigns, the issue continues to persist. According to the ILRC, the continued prevalence of such arrangements reflects a disregard for both statutory regulations and community sentiment.
Issuing a clear directive, the commission asked all non-Naga individuals currently involved in such arrangements to cease operations immediately. It warned that there will be no tolerance for attempts to misuse the names and identities of Naga citizens for commercial gain.
The ILRC also cautioned local individuals who facilitate such arrangements, describing the growing trend of “rent-a-local” practices as a serious erosion of collective responsibility that undermines long-standing economic safeguards and community rights.
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As part of its renewed enforcement efforts, the commission said it will intensify monitoring through surprise inspections and coordinate with relevant authorities to identify and expose illegal proxy business operations.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting Naga economic interests, the ILRC stated that any entity found violating the directive would face public exposure and appropriate action in defence of Naga rights and lawful economic order.
