In Nagaland, village councils’ diktat excommunicating those who voted against candidates of their choice prompted the district administration to initiate punitive measures against the erring councils.
It is reported that certain village councils in Mon district issued diktats involving expulsion of some gaon burahs and residents from the villages for voting for or against a certain party candidate in the recently concluded Nagaland Assembly elections.
This has prompted the Mon district administration to warn of immediate disciplinary action including heavy fine and dissolution of the council if the same is found true.
In a notification on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Mon district K Thavaseelan said in case any dispute or fight causing harm to human lives or damage to public and private properties in the aftermath of the elections, the village council concerned will be held squarely responsible and liable to be fined a minimum of Rs 50,000 in addition to dissolution of council.
The notification said as per Section 15(1) of the Village Councils Act, 1978, village councils will be auxiliary to the district administration and have powers to deal with maintenance of law and order and also to enforce orders passed by the competent authority in the village as a whole.
It is alleged that a 58-year old woman was brutally beaten up on the night of March 5 and excommunicated from Changki village under Jangpetkong Assembly constituency in Mokokchung district for 30 years for not voting for a particular candidate supported by Changki Village Council. It is also reported that three other persons – two women and a man – were also excommunicated from the village for 30 years for the same reason.
On March 7, Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung Sachin Jaiswal issued show-cause notice to chairman and members of Changki Village Council and gaon burhas and summoned them to appear in person in his office the next day with names of the perpetrators of the crime.