Nagaland protest
File photo: Protests over 33% reservation for women in Nagaland in February, 2017. Picture credit: New Indian Express

The Nagaland government has extended the period of the Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) probing the January 31, 2017 incident in Dimapur for another six months.

The State Home Department, in a notification, stated that the JIC’s period has been extended from January 29 to July 28 for submission of its report, after the expiry of its earlier notification extending it for three months.

Two persons lost their lives during the statewide protest over 33% reservations for women in urban local bodies in Dimapur on January 31, 2017.

The mass agitation against the Nagaland government claimed the lives of two youths in police firing in Dimapur. Three others received injuries in the incident.

The deceased youths were among a few thousand who had gathered near the private residence of the chief minister at 3rd Mile at around 9.30 p.m. Police reportedly fired at the crowd when some attempted to gate crash inside the residence.

Various tribal bodies, including the Naga Hoho, opposed 33 per cent reservation for women arguing that reservation (for women) would infringe on Naga customary laws and tradition as protected under Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India.