Kohima: Normal life came to a standstill in Nagaland in northeastern India on February 13 following a general strike called by two tribal groups.

The Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) Kohima and Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) called for the bandh (shut down) to demand the resignation of the state chief minister T R Zeliang.

However, no violence was reported from the state.

Volunteers of several Naga tribal organizations, supporting the strike, were deployed in important locations of the state.

Vehicles were off the road, people preferred to stay indoors. Business establishments, educational institutions and government offices, including the State Civil Secretariat and Assembly Secretariat were closed.

The chief minister’s resignation was among several demands from the tribal outfits who have protested the government decision to reserve 33 percent seats for women in Urban Local Bodies (ULB).

The Nagaland government had fulfilled two demands when it declared the entire process of ULB election as null and void and suspended officers involved in January 31 police firing that killed two young men in Dimapur, the state’s commercial capital.

Meanwhile confusion prevailed whether the bandh was indefinite or just for a day.

The two groups had given the bandh call separately.

NTAC Kohima that called for the 12­hour bandh on February 13 has not decided its future course of action.

Exams for grades ten to twelve are scheduled to begin February 14.

Nearly 55,000 students are appearing for the secondary and Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate examinations
.
Various civil societies, political parties and students’ organizations, including Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF) have appealed for smooth conduct of the board examinations.

The NSF has appealed to all section of the Nagas to ensure smooth functioning of the educational institutions and facilitate hassle-free passage to the examinees.

The ENSF also said that the upcoming examination should be held without any disturbances.

“We can’t expect the students to perform well in their exams in the midst of such social unrest,” they said.

Prohibitory orders continues to remain in force in some areas of Kohima, the capital, since February 2 last, report agencies.