DIMAPUR, Feb 1 - The dawn-to-dusk Statewide bandh in Nagaland called by the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) on Thursday affected normal life in only four districts of the State.
In Dimapur, the bandh was total as government offices, educational institutions, and banks remained closed for the day. Business also came to a grinding halt in Dimapur town during the bandh.
The bandh did not have any impact on the capital town Kohima. Government offices, educational institutions and business activities ran as normal during the day.
Elsewhere in the State, the bandh was effective in three districts, including Peren, Zunheboto and Mokokchung. There was no report of any untoward incident during the bandh in these districts.
Attending a small gathering at Dimapur DC Court junction, president of Naga Council Dimapur T Bangerloba termed the bandh successful and peculiar. He called the bandh peculiar because it was enforced without any volunteers and successful as it was called to support the core issue of all issues � the Naga political issue.
The Naga Council�on Wednesday�issued a statement asking its affiliated organisations to bring at least 100 participants each for a �showcase programme� at Dimapur DC Court junction at�1 pm�on Thursday. Interestingly, none turned up for the programme.
The CCNTHCO at a meeting on January 29 had decided to impose the Statewide bandh to protest against the issue of election notification for the�February 27�Assembly election.
PTI adds: Some apex tribal bodies, including Angami Public Organisation (APO), Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) and Lotha Hoho, were not imposing the bandh.
An APO statement had said yesterday no bandh would be allowed within Angami-inhabited areas and asked the people not to participate.
ENPO leader David Thingchem had said the organisation would not impose any bandh within its jurisdiction covering Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Longleng districts.
The Lotha Hoho also decided not to support the bandh in Wokha district.
Meanwhile, officials in the police and Election department said elaborate security arrangements were in place to thwart any untoward incident and for candidates to file nominations.
Upholding the January 29 joint declaration of not participating in the elections, no political parties have so far issued party tickets to any of their candidates.
Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha said yesterday was the first day of filing nominations but there was no turnout. The last date of filing nominations was February 7.
Representatives of 11 political parties, including Naga People�s Front, BJP and Congress, had decided on January 29 to not contest the February 27 elections, agreeing to the demand of tribal bodies and civil society groups to resolve the Naga political problem first.
The State BJP had later backed out of the joint declaration of not contesting the polls and said the party�s central leadership would take a call on the matter. � PTI
