Violence has been triggered in Nagaland by those opposed to 33% reservation for women in the ongoing local body elections. The violence has been mounting as two protesting youths were killed by the police. Mobs vandalised the Election Commission and Deputy Commissioners offices and set fire to the Kohima Municipal Council Building. Three offices were damaged. Five columns of Assam Rifles have been deployed in Kohima. Curfew has been imposed in Upper Kohima areas. Violence erupted after Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang announced that elections to urban local bodies were to commence on Feb 1st. Agitators threatened to place the bodies of those killed in front of Zeliang’s residence and of Naga People’s Front President Shurhozelie if their demands were not met. Police fired on demonstrators in Dimapur. Demonstrators asked for Chief Minister Zeliang’s resignation. They also demanded the cabinet’s suspension of the police personnel responsible for the two deaths. A group called Nagaland Tribe Action Council was formed to mediate between the Government and the protestors. A three point charter of demands was placed before Zeliang. The demands were not met and all hell broke loose.
Leaders of a Joint Coordination Committee had asked the Nagaland Government to hold the elections after amending the Nagaland Municipal Act. They pointed that the Act violated Article 371 of the Constitution which says that traditional administration in Nagaland will not be tampered with. The State Government paid no heed to the request. The massive violence has forced the Joint Action Committee on Women’s Reservation to disband itself. The Municipal elections have revealed the discord between the state government and traditional Naga institutions.