Kohima, Aug 17: The Nagaland government has announced to take actions against individuals and organisations calling for shut down, strikes, agitations involving blocking of National Highways and other important roads in the state as a mode of agitation to press for their grievances and demands, officials said here on Wednesday.
Announcing the punishments including jail term and fine, Nagaland Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha, in a notification, said that blocking National Highways and public roads is a punishable offence under relevant sections of National Highway Act, 1956, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 and Indian Penal Code.
In various judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts, it has also been held that bandhs (shut down) and road blockades are illegal and unconstitutional and organisers must be prosecuted, the government notification said.
The notification stated that in some cases as a part of agitation to press for certain local demands, calls are given for disturbing celebrations of National Days or forcefully preventing law abiding citizens from participating in such celebrations and functions.
“It may be stated here that any forceful act with intent to disturb the celebrations of the National Days is illegal and a serious offence and the culprits are liable to be prosecuted under relevant sections of law,” it said.
Sinha in his notification further said that district authorities are also empowered to firmly deal with those indulging in actions which violate the law or create law and order problems or disturb the existing atmosphere of peace and public tranquility or cause nuisance and obstruction to the general public.
The Home Commissioner said that the District Administration and Police officials should appropriately sensitize the individuals, organizations, groups concerned which have any pending grievance or have given a call for disruptive agitation.
