India: Election-related violence leaves one dead in Nagaland Feb. 27

Event

Election-related violence left at least one person dead and several others wounded in Nagaland state on Tuesday, February 27, as residents in Nagaland and Meghalaya states vote in their legislative assembly elections. Notably, clashes between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Naga People's Front (NPF) party supporters broke out in Akuluto constituency (Zunheboto district; Nagaland state); one person was killed after being shot in the chest and two others wounded, among other incidents of violence. Additional isolated incidents of violence are possible in Nagaland and Meghalaya states in the coming days in advance of and following vote counting, which begins on Saturday, March 3.

Context

Ethnic Naga separatists from the National Socialist Council of Nagalim - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) had called for an election boycott, as a political solution to the decades-old Naga ethnic conflict in northeastern India had not been reached with the Indian government before the end of 2017 as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Final status issues over the Nagaland ethnic conflict remain in question despite the signing of the Naga peace accord in 2015, agreed upon by NSCN-IM leaders and the Indian government, which formally ended the Naga insurgency.

The NSCN-IM seeks to establish a "Greater Nagalim," comprised of ethnic Naga people in the current states of Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Advice

Individuals in Nagaland and Meghalaya are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid large gatherings, demonstrations, and polling places as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.