Tensions have escalated in Mizoram’s capital after the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and the Mizoram Merchant Association (MIMA) discovered 36 non-local participants without valid Inner Line Permits (ILPs) at the ongoing 1st International Star Expo in Aizawl. The joint verification drive was conducted on Saturday at the Lammual Ground, where the popular trade event is being held. According to officials from both organisations, the inspection was launched following growing complaints about the alleged participation of traders and exhibitors who lacked the mandatory ILP — a document required for non-residents to enter and operate within Mizoram. The groups said that the discovery of 36 individuals without valid ILPs, including some with expired documents, represents a serious violation of state laws designed to protect local interests.
Following the inspection, all 36 individuals were handed over to the relevant authorities for legal action. “We had earlier warned both the public and the authorities about this issue, but our concerns were ignored. This is a serious breach of the ILP regulation,” MZP and MIMA said in a joint statement.The two organisations stressed that such incidents undermine the sanctity of Mizoram’s ILP system and could harm the state’s economic stability. They recalled that in a joint meeting held on September 30, both groups had already cautioned local traders against engaging with non-locals participating in the Expo without proper documentation. During the verification, it was also found that an exhibitor from Lunglei, identified as Laldingngheti Pautu, had allegedly sponsored more than 20 non-local participants through an event management company named Zorun Events. This, they said, directly violates the Mizoram Gazette Notification on ILP enforcement, which permits an individual sponsor to bring in no more than ten non-locals into the state.
Terming it “a grave violation,” MZP and MIMA urged the state government to initiate strict legal proceedings against those responsible, including the organisers of the Expo. The groups also highlighted additional irregularities — including reports that several food vendors were operating with expired FSSAI licenses, some dating back to 2020. They warned that such lapses pose potential health risks to the public and questioned the oversight of event organisers and government departments responsible for regulatory checks. “The government must take this matter seriously and ensure such violations never occur again. The ILP system exists to protect the rights and economy of the indigenous Mizo people,” the statement read. Both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the state’s economic integrity and preserve the spirit of the Inner Line Regulation, which has long been viewed as a safeguard for Mizoram’s unique socio-cultural identity.
