Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday announced that the state is preparing to roll out a fully digitised Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, describing it as the “most significant step” towards tightening monitoring of non-Arunachali movement across the frontier state.
Speaking to the media at Koloriang in Kurung Kumey district, Khandu said the digital integration process, in development for nearly three years, has reached its final stage. The upgraded ILP platform, he said, will give the state government complete, real-time visibility of every visitor, migrant worker and permit-holder entering or moving within the state.
“Technology partners have already completed the backend integration, and the new ILP system is expected to go live within the coming months,” he said. “We will finally have the data we have been waiting for. Many people have come in; now we must know who they are, how long they have stayed, and whether their ILPs are valid or expired. Even those with ILPs who are overstaying will now be visible in the system.”
Khandu said a detailed note on the reform would be issued once the rollout is completed.
Amid rising public concern over alleged illegal Bangladeshi nationals entering the state, Khandu urged residents not to rely on unverified social media claims. He said verification drives were under way across districts following directives issued to the Director General of Police, the Home Department and district police.
Highlighting the scale of recent enforcement, the Chief Minister said close to 5,000 ILP violators had been detected between January and November this year. “Each one of them was pushed back,” he said. “We do not discriminate between Hindu, Muslim or Bangladeshi Muslim. Anyone violating ILP norms is sent back.”
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The ILP system, mandated under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) of 1873, requires all non-residents, including Indian citizens from outside Arunachal Pradesh, to obtain official permission before entering the state. It acts both as a regulatory mechanism and as a safeguard for indigenous communities, helping protect traditional land rights and cultural identity.
Officials associated with the upgrade said the digital platform aims to modernise the regulatory framework while retaining the protections guaranteed under the BEFR. Once live, the system will allow uniform enforcement across districts, seamless verification of permit validity, reduction of manual processing, and enhanced coordination between police and administrative departments.
Field officers said the enhanced system will help detect forged or duplicated permits, an issue that has periodically surfaced during district checks. Real-time visitor logs, automated alerts and integration with verification teams are expected to reduce loopholes that previously enabled overstaying or unauthorised entry.
Khandu’s announcement comes amid renewed discussions in the state around demographic vulnerability, labour inflow and cultural preservation. Officials said a fully digitised ILP mechanism will strengthen the state’s ability to respond swiftly to potential violations while reducing dependence on physical checkpoints alone.
The Chief Minister said the reform is intended not only as a policing tool but as a long-term administrative upgrade. “Once the ILP system is fully digitised, monitoring and accountability will become more robust,” he said. “This will tighten the state’s control over illegal entry and overstaying.”
He said the upgraded system will ensure that the rights guaranteed under the BEFR remain effective in the present day, with the transition to a data-backed framework supporting both security needs and administrative efficiency in a rapidly developing border state.
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