A man has lost his life at Noklak during a protest by supporters of BJP at 56 Noklak Assembly Constituency. The tragic incident happened sometime between midnight and 1:00 am on Wednesday near Noklak Local Ground at the gate of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office.

The cause of the death cannot be ascertained until post-mortem on the body is completed. The deceased was said to be in his mid-30s.

The law and order situation in Noklak district had been tense ahead of the Nagaland General Election but it deteriorated even further on Tuesday evening after the Election Commission of India declared re-poll in four Polling Stations in the state.

The BJP candidate of 56 Noklak A/C, H. Haiying, and supporters were disappointed when their demand for re-poll at PS no.7, Noklak Village ‘A’ was not fulfilled by EC.

The party’s chief election agent of the constituency had on 27 February 2023 complained to the Returning Officer of Noklak, stating that the Polling Officers “took the EVM without sealing it and also not obtaining signatures from the Polling Agents”.

DC Noklak on 28 February in a letter to Nagaland’s Chief Electoral Officer had stated, “Law and order situation is likely to deteriorate”, referring to the demand for re-poll at PS no.7.

The protestors began gathering outside the DC’s office gate around 7:00 pm on Tuesday and the numbers kept increasing as the night progressed.

Blank shots were fired at around midnight. More firing followed as the protestors became more agitated.

More details are awaited on this matter.