Post-poll violence in Nagaland: One dead in Noklak

State BJP supporters were holding a protest demanding a re-poll for the 56th Noklak constituency and when the protest turned violent police resorted to blank firing during which the person

Reported by Sarah Konyak

With barely 24 hours left for the vote-counting day in Nagaland, in a instance of post-poll violence in the state, one person is said to have died in police gunfire during a protest in the Nokal district last night.

As per inputs, state BJP supporters were holding a protest near Noklak local ground at the DC gate demanding a re-poll for the 56th Noklak Assembly constituency.

When the protest turned violent police resorted to blank firing during which the person identified as L. Tongpa (33) was said to have died.

However, the situation in Noklak is now under control and the body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem examination. The cause of death will be ascertained after the post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, family members of the deceased are demanding justice for him.

As per sources, eyewitnesses claimed that on election day (February 27), the polling officer took the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) without obtaining the polling agent’s signatures, and many voters were denied the opportunity to cast their ballots despite waiting all day in a polling station within the constituency.

Following this, a complaint letter demanding a re-poll for Noklak Village ‘A’ Polling Station was submitted by BJP supporters to Noklak DC on 27 February but it was denied. Yesterday (February 28), when it was found that the re-poll for the constituency had not been listed in the Election Commission of India (ECI) notification the furious protest began, said a source from BJP.

Protesters gathered at the Noklak local ground at the DC gate demanding either the EVM or the re-poll while the protest turned violent and police resorted to blank firing at around 12 am.

More details are awaited.

Copy edited by Lipika Roy

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