The hustle and bustle of elections were absent in six districts of eastern Nagaland on Friday with almost zero per cent voting during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which started on April 19 as people stayed at home after an indefinite shutdown call by the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO).
The apex body of the seven tribal organisations of the area is demanding a separate state.
The situation, however, was peaceful even as the only people or vehicles seen were from the district administration and other emergency services.
Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland Awa Loring said election officials were stationed in the 738 polling stations in the six districts of the region.
Sources added there was no voter turnout till 11am.
These districts are occupied by seven Naga tribes – Chang, Konyak, Sangtam, Phom, Yimkhiung, Khiamniungan and Tikhir. Their demand for separate statehood is also supported by a section of Sumi tribe belonging to the region.
The ENPO on March 5 had announced an "indefinite total shutdown all over Eastern Nagaland jurisdiction with effect from 6pm on April 18 (Thursday)".
The organisation has been demanding a separate state since 2010, claiming that the six districts have been neglected for years.
Of the 13.25 voters in Nagaland, the six districts in Eastern Nagaland have 4,00,632 voters.
Meanwhile, Nagaland CEO Vayasan R, had issued a show cause notice to the ENPO on Thursday night, a move which indicates the authorities' view that the bandh as an attempt to exert undue influence during elections.
He said under sub-section (1) of Section 171C of the Indian Penal Code, "Whoever voluntarily interferes or attempts to interfere with the free exercise of any electoral right commits the offence of undue influence at an election."
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