Nagaland: Two Killed in Clashes Over Women’s Quota in ULB Polls

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Two persons were killed while several others suffered injuries in clashes between the police and a mob as groups of people rampaged government properties since last night in Dimapur and Longleng districts, even as polling to some Urban Local Bodies in Nagaland were held today.

In view of the prevailing situation, all mobile data services have been blocked in the state since midnight, while some tribal bodies which were opposed to the holding of the elections called for a bandh in the districts.

In Dimapur, two youths died and at least three were injured as a crowd gathered near the private residence of Chief Minister T R Zeliang at 3rd Mile and a police force tried to stop them around 9:30 pm, a state official said.

There were reports of the deaths caused by police firing but not confirmed by the official who did not want to be named.

Tribal organisations in Nagaland today demanded the resignation of the TR Zeliang-led government in the aftermath of the killing of two persons.

The demand was made by the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), comprising Naga tribal organisations, during the send-off service of the two deceased at the Agri-Expo junction in Dimapur this afternoon.

Naga Conservative Parties Strike to Protest Against Women’s Quota

Most of Nagaland was shut down, on Tuesday after traditional tribal organisations protested against 33 percent reservation of seats for women, for its 32 municipal and town councils, Hindustan Times reported.

Though the strike is from 6 am to 6 pm till 1 February, there will be no strike on Sunday,” HT quoted a spokesman of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), which is the umbrella body of several tribal organisations.

We had no alternative but to impose the strike against the ULB polls where quota, and not capability, has decided the candidature of women.

JCC Spokesperson

All this is because traditionally, women haven’t been allowed to participate in local administration. Since it became a state in 1963, Nagaland has had no woman legislator.

But the Naga government headed by Zeliang’s Naga People’s Front (NPF) is determined to hold the ULB polls with the message of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The world is moving towards greater gender equality, and there is no reason why women in Nagaland should not be given an opportunity to show their administrative capability starting with local bodies.

Shurhozelie Liezietsu

(With inputs from PTI and Hindustan Times)