2017 Nagaland protests

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2017 Nagaland protests
DateJanuary – February 2017
Location
Nagaland
Caused by
  • Announcement of 33% women reservation to be implemented in Civic Elections
  • Killings of two of the protesters, fueling anger and calls for revenge in different districts
Goals
  • Revoking of the 33% women reservation in Civic Elections
  • Overthrow of the T. R. Zeliang Ministry
  • Suspension of policemen responsible for the deaths of protestors
MethodsProtests, demonstrations, riots, roadblocks, barricades
Resulted in
  • Civic Elections postponed indefinitely
  • T. R. Zeliang resigns as the Chief Minister of Nagaland
  • Police brutality, two protestors killed, dozens injured
Parties

Civilian protesters

  • Civil Organizations of all the ethnic groups of Nagaland
  • Naga Hoho
Lead figures

No centralised leadership

Casualties
Death(s)2
Injuriesdozens

The 2017 Nagaland protests were a series of protests and civil unrest in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland that began on 27 January 2017 following the announcement of the 33% women reservation in the Civic Elections by the Government of Nagaland with violence beginning on the night of 31 January after the killings of two protestors by security forces. The civil unrest began in Dimapur, and later spread to various districts of Nagaland. The unrest grew rapidly after the killings, with people from different parts of Nagaland joining in the protests. [1] [2]

The Naga ethnic organizations believes that granting 33% women reservation is a violation of the right granted to Naga ethnic groups as per the Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution. [3]

Timeline

27 January

On 27 January, T. R. Zeliang, the then-Chief Minister of Nagaland announced that the elections to the Urban Local Bodies would be held on 1 February. The following days, Nagaland went into a shutdown called upon by various Civil Organizations. [4]

31 January

On 31 January, a large group of protestors gathered at Zeliang's private residence at 3rd Mile, Dimapur. A police force tried to stop them around 9:30 p.m. and in the ensuing violence between the police and the mob, two civilian protestors were killed and several others were injured in clash. [5]

In Longleng, seven people were left injured after police fired at protestors in order to prevent the mob from entering the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Longleng. [5]

In response to the protests, the government of Nagaland blocked access to Mobile Internet accessibility, to reduce the protesters' ability to organize. [3]

1 February

On 1 February, thousands of protestors arrived at Kohima along with the coffins of the two dead bodies. The protesters threatened to bury the bodies in front of the homes of the Chief Minister T. R. Zeliang and the ruling Naga People's Front's (NPF) President Shürhozelie Liezietsu if their demands were not fulfilled. [3]

2 February

On 2 February, the situation got worse as mobs set fire to the office building of the Kohima Municipal Council. The fire spread to the adjoining Transport Authority Office, State Information Commission, Urban Development Department, Railway Reservation Centre and the Kohima Press Club and significantly damaging some private buildings. Several government vehicles were also damaged. At 7:00 p.m., indefinite curfew was imposed in the city. [3] [6]

Response

The government of Nagaland in response postponed the Civic Elections indefinitely. On 19 February, T. R. Zeliang steps down as the Chief Minister of Nagaland. [7] [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagaland</span> State in northeastern India

Nagaland is a landlocked state in the north-eastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south, and the Sagaing Region of Myanmar (Burma) to the east. Its capital city is Kohima and its largest city is the twin Chümoukedima–Dimapur. The state has an area of 16,579 square kilometres (6,401 sq mi) with a population of 1,980,602 as per the 2011 Census of India, making it one of the smallest states of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kohima</span> Capital of the Indian state of Nagaland

Kohima is the capital of the Indian state of Nagaland. With a resident population of almost 100,000, it is the second largest city in the state. Kohima constitutes both a district and a municipality. The municipality covers 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi). The city lies on the foothills of Japfü section of the Barail Range located south of the District and has an average elevation of 1,261 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naga People's Front</span> Political party in India

The Naga People's Front (NPF) is a regional political party in Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. It headed the Nagaland government with the Bharatiya Janata Party, as part of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland from 2003 to 2018. NPF is coalition partner of N. Biren Singh ministry led BJP government in Manipur. Its ideology also consist of Pro-Naga Customary,Social moderate Christian Conservativism and Pro Naga Unity.Naga People's Front

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neiphiu Rio</span> Indian politician

Neiphiu Guolhoulie Rio is an Indian politician who serving as the 9th and current Chief Minister of Nagaland since 2018, previously 2008 to 2014 and from 2003 to 2008. He is the only Nagaland Chief Minister to have serving five consecutive terms, and is the longest serving Chief Minister of Nagaland. He was also a Member of Parliament from Nagaland in Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kohima district</span> District of Nagaland in India

Kohima District is a district of the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the home of the Angami Nagas. As of 2011, it is the most populous district of Nagaland, with a population of 267,988, 45% of which is urban. The district is home to 13.55% of Nagaland's entire population. The administrative headquarters of the district is located at Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland. Kohima District is also the seventh-largest district in Nagaland with an area of 1,207 square kilometres (466 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuensang district</span> District of Nagaland in India

Tuensang District (Pron:/ˌtjuːənˈsæŋ/) is the largest district in Nagaland, a state in North-East India. Its headquarters is in Tuensang town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chümoukedima</span> City and municipality in Northeast India, India

Chümoukedima, formerly spelled Chumukedima, is a municipality in the Chümoukedima District of the Indian state of Nagaland. It is situated on the left bank of the Chathe and with its surrounding area that includes several other towns and villages, the Chümoukedima Metropolitan Area is the largest urban agglomeration in Nagaland in terms of area and third largest in terms of population, after Dimapur and Kohima.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. R. Zeliang</span> Indian politician

Taditui Rangkau Zeliang is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland. He has served twice as the Chief Minister of Nagaland, from May 2014 to February 2017 and from July 2017 to March 2018. A leader of the Naga People's Front,T. R. Zeliang previously served as a Member of Parliament, representing Nagaland in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament. He served as the Chairman of United Democratic Alliance (Nagaland) and was former leader of the NPF Legislature Party and former Leader of Opposition in Nagaland Legislative Assembly.He represents the paren constituency in Nagaland Legislative Assembly since 2008.

Hokishe Sema was an Indian politician who served as the third Chief Minister of Nagaland and the fourth Governor of Himachal Pradesh. He was also a member of the drafting committee of Naga People's Convention.

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The 2015 Dimapur mob lynching was a case of mob lynching that took place in Dimapur, Nagaland, India, on 5 March 2015. A mob of about 7000–8000 people broke into a prison, dragged a man detained under Accused of rape out of the Dimapur Central Jail, paraded him naked and beat him to death in a case of vigilante justice.

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References

  1. ↑ Solomon, Feliz (3 February 2017). "Tribes in India Demand an End to Local Gender Quotas, Sparking Deadly Riots". Time . Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "Nagaland protesters demand Chief Minister TR Zeliang's resignation: Latest developments". India Today . 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rutsa, Xavier (3 February 2017). "Violence in Nagaland: Protesters attack government offices in Kohima". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  4. ↑ "Nagaland shuts down as tribal bodies protest against 33% women quota in civic polls". Hindustan Times . 28 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Two killed, several injured in Nagaland clashes over ULB polls; section 144 imposed". Indian Express . 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  6. ↑ "Nagaland violence: What is the protest all about? All you need to know". Indian Express . 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "Nagaland CM TR Zeliang resigns amid protests: All you need to know about the unrest". First Post. 20 February 2017. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  8. ↑ "TR Zeliang steps down as Nagaland Chief Minister". Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt. Ltd. 20 February 2017. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
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